Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Edward Ramsey, 407648 

John Edward Ramsey, was born in Cowell on August 30, 1917, to parents Joseph Archibald Leslie Ramsey and Olive Eva Ramsey. John (known as Jack) was educated at Cortlinye and Jamestown schools before attending the Cowell Higher Primary School (1931-32) where he studied the Intermediate Certificate passing English, Maths 1, Arithmetic, Geology, History and Geography, but failed book-keeping. Jack, a Baptist, played football and was the captain of the Cowell Higher Primary Team. He was also a vice captain of the Cowell Higher Primary School Cricket Team. During 1938-39, Jack began a 2-year course at Howard’s Correspondence College studying Latin, Maths 2, French, Physics and Chemistry however, he abandoned the course and instead completed English Literature at the Leaving Certificate level. Prior to enlistment Jack worked on his family farm at Darke’s Peak with his parents. He worked on reconditioning machinery, team driving, power work with tractors and feeding chaff cutters and had experience with internal combustion engines with tractors, cars and motorbikes. Jack played in the Darke’s Peak football team for 5 consecutive years.

On 25 March 1940 Jack Ramsey applied to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force. He enrolled in the RAAF reserve on 25 June 1940 in No. 5 Recruiting Centre, Adelaide. On 7 December 1940 he joined the Royal Australian Air Force, and sometime in between his enrolment in the RAAF reserve and him joining the RAAF in the Citizen Air Force he became engaged to a woman from Kimba, South Australia (according to one of Jack's relatives).

After attending various training schools in Victoria, Jack was awarded the Air Gunners Badge in August 1941. Temporary Sergeant Jack Ramsey embarked Sydney on 18 September 1941 for Canada, then embarked Canada for the United Kingdom on in November 1941. Jack was placed in Wick, in the highlands of Scotland in January 1942 along with the rest of the No. 48 Squadron. It was here, in Wick, that the Squadron’s old Anson Aircrafts were replaced by newer Lockheed Hudsons. The No. 48 Squadron was in Wick, to watch the North Sea. 

Sergeant Ramsey (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) was aboard the Squadron’s Hudson FH427 when it took off at 1401 hours from Lossiemouth, Scotland on 10 August 1942 to carry out a “North Bert” patrol. The crew’s ETA was 2000 hours, however no message was received from the aircraft after take-off and the aircraft never returned. Other crew members were Pilot Officer GR Watts (Pilot) RAAF, Sergeant GR Ash (Navigator) RCAF and Sergeant RK Baneer (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) RAAF. The only body recovered from the aircraft was that of Pilot Officer Gordon Roy Watts - the rest of the crew, including Jack, were never found and their graves are recorded “Known Unto God”. Sergeant John Edward Ramsey was presumed dead at only 24 years of age on the same day of the patrol, as a result of air operations. 

In late March 1943 effects taken from an unidentified airman washed ashore on 14 October 1942 at Tjorno on the west coast of Sweden included a wireless operator’s badge in bronze, attached to a fragment of uniform and a terrier mascot in mother of pearl. It was thought that the airman concerned may have been either Sergeant Ramsey or Sergeant Baneer, both of them wireless operators/air gunners. A letter concerning this matter was sent to the Officer Commanding 48 Squadron; however, no reply was received, and no further information was available.

Sergeant Jack Ramsey was awarded the 21/8/4 Air Gunner Badge,1939/45 Atlantic & Defence and the 1939/45 War Medal. He is remembered on Panel 113, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK, Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT, World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide and the  Franklin Harbour cenotaph.

References;

Genge 2015, DVA’s Nominal Rolls, Dva.gov.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1012683&c=WW2#R>.

John Edward Ramsey 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1716382>.

John Edward (Jack) RAMSEY 2025, Vwma.org.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/515550>.

National Archives of Australia NameSearch, Terrace, V 2025, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1059581>.

Personal. - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 8 Apr 1943 2025, Trove, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219490351?searchTerm=Jack%20Ramsey>

RAMSEY John Edward 407648 – Aviation Heritage Museum 2025, Aviationmuseumwa.org.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcraaf-roll/ramsey-john-edward-407648/>.

Sergeant John Edward Ramsey 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 6 May 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10319684>.

World War 2 Biographies. Stocker, B. Cowell RSL