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Archibald Ramsay – Radio Officer

There is a short enigmatic memorial inscription in a Carluke Cemetery for a distant cousin of mine. It reads:

Their son Archibald
Drowned through enemy action 1940.

It was added to the stone for his elder brother, Thomas Ramsay, who died in WW1.

There is no mention of Archibald in the cwgc website, nor any other site I can find.

Recently I found the following newspaper article from 1940 on the British Newspaper Archive website:
The Carluke & Lanark Gazette dated 9 August 1940 reported:
BOAT SUNK BY ENEMY ACTION. Mr Archibald Ramsay, who was a wireless officer on a boat which has been torpedoed, is missing. He is a son of the late Mr and Mrs Thos. Ramsay, Cadzow Villa, Carluke, and was married to a Lanark lady. His ship sailed on 16th July and was sunk by enemy action on 18th July. He is well known in Carluke and is a great favourite with all who knew him. Official information that the boat had been sunk was received on Friday last, and it is known that nine members of the crew have landed in America but so far there is no definite news of Mr Ramsay.

I have a list of UK ships torpedoed about this date:
16th July 1940 - Scottish Minstrel; 41 crew, 32 survivors, 9 lost.
17th July 1940 - Manipur: 79 crew, 65 survivors, 14 lost.
17th July 1940 - Fellside: 33 crew, 21 survivors, 12 lost.
18th July 1940 - Woodbury: 35 crew, no casualties.
19th July 1940 - Pearlmoor: 39 crew, 26 survivors, 13 lost.

The casualties for these ships are in the cwgc website and also the Tower Hill memorial.

There was another newspaper report after the war:
The Carluke & Lanark Gazette dated 8 June 1951 reported:
Additions To Church Memorial At Kirkton Church
On Sunday morning, opportunity was taken to make mention of the recent additions upon the Church Memorial to those fallen in the two world wars. It was remembered that Sunday was the eleventh anniversary of Dunkirk, and there were prayers offered for the welfare of our nation and for the peace of the world. The congregation stood in reverent silence while the minister read the following words: " According to the wish of the Kirk Session and by the will of all the people of this congregation, we have this day added to the Church Memorial to the Fallen the following names:— Harold A. Paterson, Archibald Ramsay, James M. Skeoch. "We remember that these men went in jeopardy of their lives and returned no more to the peaceful scenes of home. Within the bounds of this congregation we place on public record their service, their devotion, and their sacrifice. We, too, dedicate ourselves anew to the cause of our own well-loved land, of all humanity and of the Kingdom of God. 

Why is there no official record of Archibald Ramsay? Perhaps he was a passenger on a ship and not on the actual crew list, or he may have a crew member on a foreign ship. Any suggestions as to why he has seemingly been forgotten?

leighton

Hello Jim,

I found these two articles about HMT Lancashire in 1954. Is this the voyage that you are looking for? There is no mention of the departure date from Japan, presumably it was sometime in August.

The Times dated 27 August 1954 reported:
Death in Troopship
From Our Correspondent
Liverpool, Aug 26
Liverpool detectives will board the troopship Lancashire, now on her way from Japan, when she reaches the Mersey early on Monday, to make inquiries about the death of a member of the crew. The captain of the ship radioed the Liverpool managers, and the next of kin of the dead man have been informed.
It is understood he was the ship’s butcher, and that his death followed an incident involving other members of the crew.
 
The Times dated 30 August 1954 reported:
Detectives Meet Troopship
Liverpool detectives left the Mersey by tender yesterday to meet the troopship Lancashire from Japan to make inquiries into the death of a ship’s butcher named William Crellin, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool. Statements will be taken from members of the crew. The Lancashire is due in Liverpool early this morning. A Liverpool solicitor will meet the ship on its arrival.

Regards
leighton

Hello Anne,

Before the war, most of the National Newspapers carried details of shipping such as arrivals, departures and destinations.

If you have access to the Times archive at your local library, you should be able to find out the information you are looking for.

leighton