Pte. Ralph Bramwell

40th Battalion (Nova Scotia)

England

Circa 1916

Pte. Bramwell was a member of the 40th Battalion band. Visible in the photo are his 40th Battalion cap and collar badges. On his right arm is a bandsman trade patch.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (40-2-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Terry McCully Collection 2024

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Short Biography and Record of Service

Ralph Bramwell
Service Number 415022

Ralph Bramwell was born in Wigan, England on November 24, 1876. He was a miner, married, and living in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, when he enlisted with the rank of private in the 40^th Battalion (Nova Scotia) on May 21, 1915. He was 38 years old. Ralph was also a musician and prior to the war had played in the regimental band of the 94^th Victoria Regiment “Argyll Highlanders”, a local Cape Breton militia unit. Ralph is present in a 1911 photo of the 94^th regimental band. With his prior band experience, he was assigned to the band of the 40^th Battalion. Ralph went overseas with the 40^th Battalion in October, 1915. While in England the 40^th Battalion became a reserve battalion and began assigning its men as reinforcements to units at the front. On July 14, 1916, Ralph was transferred to the 18^th Battalion (Western Ontario). It had recruited and mobilized in London, Ontario. He crossed the English Channel to France at the end of July and joined his new unit in the field on August 1. Ralph spent the rest of the war with the 18^th Battalion and returned to Canada in May, 1919. He was discharged from the army on May 24, 1919 with the rank of private.