Henry John Ransom

Story:
Henry John Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1874 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 28th June 1874, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans).  He lived his early life in and around Cann. He went for work in the Greenwich, London, area and met and married Violet Jane Gaskin Roberts at St. John the Baptist Church, Greenwich, London, on 21st October 1907 and they went on to have one child.  He was back in Shaftesbury when he enlisted on 25th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 117595).  He served in France and Flanders from 3 Sep 1915 where, on 14th October 1917, he received gunshot wounds to his right arm and right thigh.  He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 10th February 1918 (Service No. 292865) and served as a Private with the 609th Agricultural Company.  He was discharged on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living at Jasmine Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, working as a Ploughman for J. J. Brickell, (Farmer of East Melbury Farm). By the 1939 Register he had moved to Mampitts Cottage, (near Mampitts Farm),  Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was employed as a Carter.  He died in 1956 and was buried at The Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 21st January 1956.    His brother, Joseph Ransom(e), also served in the conflict with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.