William Douglas Ransome was born on 29th December 1883 in Kilburn, London to parents James and Harriet Ransome. He joined the Royal Navy on 09 May 1904 - though from reading the record it does not seem that he lasted long and had a number of run-ins with the police. Though, I found him in the 1911 Census as a House Painter. He married Annie Berry (nee Kimber) in 1916 and found him again in the 1921 Census as a House Painter / Decorator. Annie and William had four children Constance Grace Ransome 1908-1981, Dorothy Eileen Ransome 1912-1958, Lillian Kathleen Ransome 1914-1940 & Douglas William Ransome 1916-1986. William is on the Electoral Roll until 1927 when I am no longer able to find him ... There is a William D Ransome in the 1939 Electoral Register but that is not him and also a William Ransome who died in Exeter in 1942 that is also not him. There also seems to be a warrant out for his arrest in 1931- but have not been able to follow up much on this apart from the post in the England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 register. The marriage certificate of Douglas William Ransome in 1953, states that the father is deceased so he died somewhere between 1927/1931 and 1953? Please can someone help ... ?!
