Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On September 16, 1918, Clyde Ronald Ramsey was born in Cowell, son of Olive and David Ramsey. Clyde grew up in the Cowell area and attended the Coolanie School. He had 6 siblings: Phillip (Noel), Sydney, Valma, Horace, Reginald, and Ivy. After Clyde finished Year 7, he became a farmer in the Coolanie area. Clyde enjoyed football on the weekends, playing for the Rovers Football Club. 

Clyde Ronald Ramsey enlisted in World War 2 on the 30th of July 1941, in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. He enlisted with the Australian Army at the age of 22 years and 10 months. Service number SX13905.

In 1941, November 2nd, Clyde embarked on the Convoy US 13 from NSW with the 27th AIF. He disembarked in the Middle East then participated in training exercises at Dimra, Palestine. Clyde suffered with measles during December 1941 and was released from the No 1 Australian General Hospital, Dimra on Christmas Eve.

Private Ramsey returned to the 2/27 Battalion mid January of 1942 and was briefly appointed Lance Corporal. Having spent only a brief time in the Middle East, he embarked Egypt for Adelaide (via Bombay) on the 30th of January, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of March along with others from the 2/27th. Clyde then took a week's leave and returned to Cowell. 

The Eyre's Peninsula Tribune reported: Soldiers from Overseas Return  
Mild excitement prevailed in Cowell this week, when it was learned that several of our fighting men had returned from overseas and were expected to arrive home on leave. Parents and friends were anxious to meet them and welcome them back to their hometown. It was fitting that amongst the first to arrive were two of the first to enlist from the district, Ptes Charlie Stening and Allan Pike, who had two years' service overseas. Others to return were Ptes J W Wiseman, W Reed, Dick Haines, John Burton and Clyde Ramsey, Ptes W Hissey, Alex Mc Donald, Jack and Don Zerna, are expected to arrive to-night. Most of the lads are fit and well and all look wiry and tough. They are delighted to be back in Australia, and after a spell will be anxious to tackle the Japs (Thursday April 2 1942).

The 2/27th Battalion’s stay in Australia, however, was short. On the 7th of August 1942, Private Clyde Ronald Ramsey departed Brisbane, arriving at Port Moresby on the 14th of August 1942. By the 6th of September, he was on Mission Ridge on the Kokoda Trail, preparing for the Japanese. The battalion held its position for two days before being forced to pull out by a Japanese outflanking move that cut the trail behind it, which made a group of soldiers move bush.

Army records indicate that Private Ramsey was reported missing, believed killed on 17th September 1942. 

According to a letter dated 22 November 1942 from Lieutenant RM Puttland  2/27th AIF , to Mrs Ramsey, explaining the details of Clyde's death...

The group of soldiers that Clyde was in was slowly moving as they were carrying the wounded and had no food. About the sixth day, they decided to leave the stretchers with a small party, the rest going ahead to locate a local garden of sweet potatoes. After 2 days, the group of soldiers found potatoes and decided to send a party ahead to get others to get wood for cooking. Everyone was pretty weak, so only two people went: the platoon sergeant and ‘Ted’ (Clyde). It was anticipated that the two men would get back to the stretchers by around 4 o’clock, but this was not the case, as in the meantime, a Japanese patrol had moved out of a nearby village off the main track. At the time Clyde ran into the Japanese, the platoon sergeant who was about 10 yards behind. The platoon sergeant reported that there was a rush and rustle in the jungle, the Japanese opened fire only 10 yards away from Ted. 

Lieutenant Puttland also mentioned his men's love of Clyde's disposition and stated '... as you have a soft spot for him, so have we that played and fought alongside him.'

 From the Rovers Football Club minutes 'Resolved that we place on record our tribute to Clyde Ramsey who has been posted missing whilst on active service.  He played as he lived - a good clean game'.       Resolved that we write to Mr and Mrs DG Ramsey expressing sincere regret that Clyde has been posted missing and advising them of his life in our midst.'  (Cowell RSL Records - full WW2 biographies - B Stocker).

 The Ramsey family entered the following notice in the 'Eyre's Peninsula Tribune' 12 September 1946:

IN MEMORIAM

RAMSEY - In loving memory of our dear son and brother; Pte Clyde Ramsey 2/27th Battalion, missing in New Guinea September 17th, 1942, now presumed dead. A beautiful life came to an end. He died as he lived, everyone's friend. 

Reference List

Genge 2015, DVA’s Nominal Rolls, Dva.gov.au, <https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=677257&c=WW2#R>.

Terrace, V 2025, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au<https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6413746>.

Clyde Ronald Ramsey 2025, Awm.gov.au, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1699638>.

Coolanie - COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 16 Oct 1941 2025, Trove, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219494892>.

Soldier Reported Missing - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 15 Oct 1942 2025, Trove, \<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219491884>.

Complimentary Social - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 16 Oct 1941 2025, Trove,<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219494864>.

Home on Leave - Soldiers from Overseas Return - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 2 Apr 1942 2025, Trove, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219495450>.

Family Notices - Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 - 1950) - 12 Sept 1946 2025, Trove, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219500996>.

Genge 2015, DVA’s Nominal Rolls, Dva.gov.au, <https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=677257&c=WW2#R>.

Vwma 

Letter from Lt Puttman to Mrs Ramsey. Ramsey family private collection

World War 2 Biographies. Stocker, B, Cowell Rsl

Family members