Sir Bertram Home Ramsay | |
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![]() Ramsay in 1943
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Born |
London, England |
20 January 1883
Died | 2 January 1945 Toussus-le-Noble, France |
(aged 61)
Allegiance |
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Service/branch |
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Years of service | 1898–1945 |
Rank | Admiral |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Member of the Royal Victorian Order Mention in Despatches (two) Légion d'honneur (France) Legion of Merit (United States) Order of Ushakov (USSR) |
Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB, KBE, MVO (20 January 1883 – 2 January 1945) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded the destroyer HMS Broke during the First World War and was responsible for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 during the Second World War.
He was born in London, into an old family (see Ramsay Baronets). His parents were Brig.-Gen. William Alexander Ramsay and Susan Newcombe Minchener. He attended Colchester Royal Grammar School. In 1898, he joined the Royal Navy. Serving on HMS Britannia, he became a midshipman within a year. Following his promotion, he was transferred to HMS Crescent, and was confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant on 15 September 1902. He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1904.
On 26 February 1929, he married Helen Margaret Menzies, daughter of Colonel Charles Thomson Menzies. They had two sons, David Francis Ramsay (born 1 Oct 1933), and Charles Alexander Ramsay (born 12 Oct 1936); Charles was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and rose to become Director General of the Territorial Army.
During the First World War, Ramsay was given his first command, the "M 25", a small monitor, in August 1915. For two years his ship was part of the Dover Patrol off the Belgian coast. Promoted to commander on 30 June 1916, in October 1917 he took command of another Dover Patrol vessel, the destroyer HMS Broke.