Harry Sherwood Ranken
Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps
- Register No.
- 1020 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps all Royal Army Medical Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 19–20 September 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 16th November 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Born
- 3rd September 1883 at Glasgow, Scotland
- Died
- 25th September 1914 at Braine, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Braine Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
On 19 and 20 September 1914 at Haute-Avesnes, France, Captain Ranken was severely wounded in the leg whilst attending to his duties on the battlefield under shrapnel and rifle fire. He arrested the bleeding from this and bound it up, then continued to dress the wounds of his men, sacrificing his own chance of survival to their needs. Wheen he finally permitted himself to be carried to the rear his case had become almost desperate and he Died on within a short period. (More to follow)
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RANKEN, Harry Sherwood. (reg.No.1020).
Captain Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps London Gazetted on 16th November 1914.
Born on: 3rd September 1883 at Glasgow, Scotland.
Died on: 25th September 1914 at Braine, France.
Memorial at Braine Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 19 and 20 September 1914 at Haute-Avesnes, France, Captain Ranken was severely wounded in the leg whilst attending to his duties on the battlefield under shrapnel and rifle fire. He arrested the bleeding from this and bound it up, then continued to dress the wounds of his men, sacrificing his own chance of survival to their needs. Wheen he finally permitted himself to be carried to the rear his case had become almost desperate and he Died on within a short period. (More to follow)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Braine Cemetery, France
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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