John Michael Ringer

Born: 1888

Died: 13 August 1915

Rank and Regiment: Private 7315 in the 9th Battalion of the Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force

Resting Place: Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium - Plot II. A1. 9

John was born in Knapton (a village about nine miles from Cromer) in January 1888. He was baptised there on 21 July 1889. He was the son of Laura Louisa Ringer, a native of Little Melton; his father appears to have been William Bessey Woodhouse, postman (1851-1917). In the Censuses for 1891, 1901 and 1911, Laura’s relationship to William is described as “housekeeper”, because there was not a convenient description at that time for a long-term settled relationship outside marriage; but in the 1901 Census John’s relationship to William is described as “son”, and when the 1911 Census asked how long they had been married, William wrote in “38 years” before crossing it out. They evidently became more open and confident about the situation as time went on, for their three youngest children, Harold, Eric and Ivy, all bear the name “Woodhouse Ringer”.

In 1881, Laura had been in service in Barnham Broom working for farmer James Hipperson. She and William moved there after the 1911 Census (at which time they were living in Norwich). The grant of letters of administration to William’s estate after he died in March 1917 describes him as “of Barnham Broom”.

In 1911, we find John having moved away from his parents’ home and living in Cromer where he worked as a groom to a butcher. Interestingly, the butcher concerned, Edward Hales, appears himself to have been only 20 years old.

John then emigrated to Australia. There is a record of a John Ringer, 26, described as a carter (which would be consistent with a butcher’s horse-drawn delivery man) setting off from London for Brisbane aboard the Rimutaka, interestingly in October 1914, after the Great War had broken out.

He subsequently enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 15 October 1916, and an embarkation date of 24 January 1917 is recorded. He died of wounds sustained on 20 September 1917. He is buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Menin Road Cemetery, Belgium