Sgt
Clarence Gordon Ranson

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
09/11/1891
Geboorteplaats:
Scottsdale, Tasmania, Australië

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Bushman

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Australië
Strijdmacht:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Sergeant
Service nummer:
20217
Dienstneming datum:
1/11/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Ross, Tasmania, Australië
Eenheden:
 —  Australian Field Artillery, 27th Bty. 7th Bde.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
16/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Brandhoek, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Died of wounds (D.O.W.)
Leeftijd:
25

Begraafplaats

Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No.3
Plot: I
Rij: L
Graf: 26

Onderscheidingen en medailles 3

British War Medal
Medaille
Military Medal
Medaille — 24/06/1917
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Sergeant Clarence “Mick” Gordon Ranson served in the 27th Battery, part of the 7th Field Artillery Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division.
He was rewarded with the Military Medal for rescuing 6 men from a gas attack in the Battle of Messines. On the night of the 7thand 8th of June 1917, Sergeant Ranson was with an ammunition party near the Ploegsteert Cross-roads, when a party of Australian Infantry encountered heavy gas in the vicinity a number became completely exhausted. He removed the kit from 6 of these men and administered the capsule supplies, and ultimately succeeded in getting them all to the dressing station. This was done about 2 a.m. when the gas was very heavy and enemy high explosive shells were dropping quite close to the spot. Ranson himself was suffering afterwards from the effects of the gas.
The 27th Battery also participated in the Third Battle of Ypres. Beginning from the 4th of October, the 7th Field Artillery Brigade moved into position in the area of Potsdam and Vampir. The 27th Battery was situated nearby Bostin Farm. They subsequently positioned their guns between Bostin Farm and the remnants of the Ypres-Roulers railroad (now the Ieperstraat).
On October 13, the 27th Battery was ordered to start firing on German positions northeast of Passchendaele. Starting from the early morning of October 14, German aeroplanes reconnoitred the Battery positions of the 7th Field Artillery Brigade at a very low attitude. The aeroplane observation resulted in fixing the batteries positions. At 12.30 p.m. a deliberate destructive shoot took place on some of the batteries. Because of the continuing firing upon the battery positions, battery commanders were given instructions to reduce the personnel at the Gun lines to a minimum for at least until October 16.
On the 15th of October, German shell fire caused a number of casualties amongst the battery gunners. The batteries of the 7th Field Artillery Brigade were again subjected to a severe shelling on the 16th of October, causing a large number of casualties.
Sergeant Clarence “Mick” Gordon Ranson died of his wounds on the 16th of October 1917. He was possibly mortally wounded, due to the heavy shelling that day on the 27th Battery positions near Bostin Farm. He was evacuated to the No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, at Brandhoek near Poperinge, where he succumbed of his wounds. He was buried in the nearby Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3.

Bronnen 3

7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 13/35/12, part 1 and 2).
Gebruikte bronnen
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10240447
Gebruikte bronnen
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, RANSON C G).
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SessionTimeout.aspx
Gebruikte bronnen

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