A Western Front Military Cross and North Russia bar to the Military Cross recipient’s British War Medal 1914-1919 awarded to Lieutenant R. Ramsay, 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders - The Black Watch later attached 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers who saw service on the Western Front from 8th November 1914 and who would be decorated with the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 19th April 1918, for his gallantry in carrying out a most valuable reconnaissance, he led a small patrol through the enemy’s first belt of wire and succeeded in locating two enemy posts. During the assault he handed his men with great skill and coolness and after reaching all his objectives withdrew without a casualty. He would later serve in North Russia whilst attached to the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and would be awarded a bar to his Military Cross in the London Gazette of 21st January 1920 for taking over command when his commanding officer was killed until the next senior officer could be informed. He was practically cut off with the whole of a Column Headquarters when the enemy landed a party of sailors. He managed to extricate headquarters and keep up constant communication with the forward attacking companies. Post war he would see a short period of service with the Gold Coast Regiment in West Africa.
British War Medal 1914-1919; (LIEUT. R. RAMSAY.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Robert Ramsay was serving as a regular soldier serving with the 17th Lancers on the outbreak of war with the rank of Lance Corporal. The 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers during August 1914 were based in Sialkot, India and formed part of the Sialkot Cavalry Brigade. This Brigade joined the 1st Indian Cavalry Division and sailed from Bombay on the 16th October and began landing at Marseilles on the 7th November 1914. Ramsay arrived the following day.
Ramsay would have first seen action when the cavalry serving as infantry proved critical in the successful defence of Ypres. The 17th Lancers also saw action during the Battle of Festubert.
On 11th June 1915 Ramsay was recommended for a commission and this was granted on 26th July 1917 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Black Watch. He quickly returned to France however and rejoined the 1st Battalion, joining them on 29th August 1917. While serving with this Battalion, Ramsay was awarded a Military Cross which was gazetted on the 19th April 1918, the citation reading:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In preparation for a raid on the enemy’s lines he carried out a most valuable reconnaissance. He led a small patrol through the enemy’s first belt of wire and succeeded in locating two enemy posts. During the assault he handled his men with great skill and coolness, and after reaching all his objectives withdrew without a casualty’
After the Armistice Ramsay stayed in the Army and was appointed ot the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on the 17th August 1919 as the adjutant of the battalion. This Battalion was recruited in 1919 for service in North Russia and was composed of many soldiers from all over the British Empire who had been discharged and chose to volunteer for further service.
On arrival in Russia, the battalion served was on the River Dvina front during September 1919; however plans were in hand to withdraw all British forces from North Russia. The battalion’s last main action was on the night of the 14/15th September when some Bolshevik blockhouses at Nevonovskaya were attacked and the retreating Bolshevik troops were pursued. This led however to a counter-attack which forced the battalion to retreat.
The last British troops from the Dvina front were embarked at Archangel at the end of September and returned to the UK where the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was disbanded during December 1919. Ramsay would subsequently be awarded a bar to his Military Cross after taking command of the Battalion when the CO was killed. The citation for the Military Cross appeared in the London Gazette of 21st January 1920 and reads:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership. He as adjutant to the column, when his commanding officer was killed took command until the next senior officer could be informed. He was practically cut off with the whole of Column Headquarters, when the enemy landed a party of sailors. He managed to extricate headquarters and keep up constant communication with the forward attacking companies. He has again later done excellent work’
Ramsay next chose to be seconded to the Colonial Office for service in West Africa with the Gold Coast Regiment which he joined on the 11th February 1920. He served with them til returning to 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch on the 21st February 1922. Later that year he retired from the army on the 2nd October 1922 and was granted retired pay.
