Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Dorset Tasmania History Society

Norman RANSON was born at Scottsdale in 1891, one of ten children of John Clayton and Catherine Ann (née CHERRY). He enlisted early in the First World War at the age of 23, and saw action at Gallipoli. He wrote home to say “We had it very hot, I can tell you. Our brigade was the first to land, and as the country was very hilly, with short, thick scrub all over, things were a bit rough for us, but we pushed ahead well. It was between 3 and 4 o'clock on Sunday morning (25th April) when we landed, and by 12 o'clock we had advanced two or three miles. Then we began to get it—shrapnel, machine guns, and rifle fire—but the boys took it very coolly, and every now and then you would hear someone give a groan and either crawl back or call for stretcher-bearers. About half past twelve, I stopped one. I got it in the back of the leg; it hit the bone, and tore a hole in the front large enough to put your four fingers in… When I was hit, I crawled for about half a mile under heavy fire, then I reached the head of a gully, from where I used my rifle as a crutch. After a lot of pain and dodging shrapnel, I reached the beach at five o'clock. We were taken on board a transport that night, as the hospital ships were full, and we did not leave there till Tuesday, getting to Alexandria on Thursday night. We were taken off at dinner time on Friday, and I have been on my back ever since, and am not having a bad time, under the circumstances. I hope to be better in a few weeks' time”. He survived the war seeing much action including being further injured, contracting diphtheria, being commissioned, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal. He returned home to farm at Derby, and died in 1970 in Bridport at the age of 78.

From Dorset Tasmania History Society

Norman RANSON was born at Scottsdale in 1891, one of ten children of John Clayton and Catherine Ann (née CHERRY). He enlisted early in the First World War at the age of 23, and saw action at Gallipoli. He wrote home to say “We had it very hot, I can tell you. Our brigade was the first to land, and as the country was very hilly, with short, thick scrub all over, things were a bit rough for us, but we pushed ahead well. It was between 3 and 4 o'clock on Sunday morning (25th April) when we landed, and by 12 o'clock we had advanced two or three miles. Then we began to get it—shrapnel, machine guns, and rifle fire—but the boys took it very coolly, and every now and then you would hear someone give a groan and either crawl back or call for stretcher-bearers. About half past twelve, I stopped one. I got it in the back of the leg; it hit the bone, and tore a hole in the front large enough to put your four fingers in… When I was hit, I crawled for about half a mile under heavy fire, then I reached the head of a gully, from where I used my rifle as a crutch. After a lot of pain and dodging shrapnel, I reached the beach at five o'clock. We were taken on board a transport that night, as the hospital ships were full, and we did not leave there till Tuesday, getting to Alexandria on Thursday night. We were taken off at dinner time on Friday, and I have been on my back ever since, and am not having a bad time, under the circumstances. I hope to be better in a few weeks' time”. He survived the war seeing much action including being further injured, contracting diphtheria, being commissioned, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal. He returned home to farm at Derby, and died in 1970 in Bridport at the age of 78.