Ronald Fensom
He wqs a bricklayer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Ronald Fensom was born in 1896 at Nottingham, he was the son of Albert a bricklayer and Amelia Grace Fensom née Squires of 59 Sedgley Ave, Sneinton, Nottingham.
His father: Albert Fensom, was born in 1869 at Luton and working as a bricklayer his mother: Amelia Grace Squires was born in 1870 at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Fensom's had one brother, Leonard, born in 1893 in Nottingham and working as a plasterer and two sisters; Gladys, born in 1898 in Nottingham and Winifred, born in 1900, also in Nottingham. his parents were married on 7th April 1890 at St Matthews Church, Nottingham, they had 6 children, sadly 1 died in infancy or early childhood.
The family lived at 59 Sedgley Avenue, Sneinton Dale, Nottingham in the 1911 census, Albert 42 yrs is a bricklayer he is living with his wie Amelia 41 yrs and their children, Leonard 18 yrs a plasterers apprentice, Ronald a bricklayers apprentice, Gladys 13 yrs a scholar and Winifred 11 yrs a scholar.
Private Ronald Fensom attested on 05/10/1914 in Nottingham. He was transferred to 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters on 20/02/1915 and was drafted to France. On 13/10/1915 he was reported as missing, but the next day he was admitted to 46th Field Ambulance having been gassed. On 15/10/1915 he was transferred to 15th W.R. Casualty Clearing Station and then sent on to St. John Ambulance Hospital at Etaples. On 29/10/1915 he was sent on to 1/46th Infantry Base Depot at Rouen but did not rejoin his unit until 23/11/1915.
The battalion moved to Foncquevillers in preparation for the attack on Gommecourt on July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. At 7.30 a.m. the battalion moved in four waves across No Man's Land. The week of artillery bombardment had failed to subdue the Germans and soon shells and heavy machine gun fire was cutting great gaps in the lines. Within minutes there were no officers left, but the men did not hesitate; they continued to moved forward. At seventy yards they could see that the situation was hopeless as the wire had only been partially cut. Still they did not hesitate. A few made it to the German second line but were soon bombed back into No Man's Land. There the wounded and the survivors waited all day until it got dark and they could crawl back to their lines. That night only 96 men were present at roll call. Pte. Fensom's body was recovered and he was buried at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Ronald Fensom
Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marking Fensom's grave at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France Courtesy of Murray Biddle
Photo of Ronald Fensom
Fensom Ronald courtesy of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment roll of honour website