Max Ogilvy-Ramsay

Key Information

Name: Max Ogilvy- Ramsay

DoB: June 5, 1893,

Regt: Lieut., R.A.F.

DoD: Killed in action in Italy, Aug. 4, 1918.

Academic Career: CGS 1907- 1912.  Sedbergh School.

Biographical Information:

  • Family Background:

    Max was the son of Dr Maxwell and Isabella Ogilvy-Ramsay. He had a sister, Mary, and the 1901 and 1911 Census  list both Mary and Max living with their parents at Portland Square, Carlisle.

    A Mary Ogilvy Ramsay died in 1977 (born November 1894) so it seems she never married.

  • Academic Record:

    Carlisle Grammar School 1907-12. He was a member of the school debating society he supported the motion “International arbitration is a substitute for war”

  • War Service:

    Max joined the Royal Flying Corps and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on June 7 1917. He was appointed flying officer (pilot) on August 11 1917.

    Pilot of Bristol F2b bomber, serial number D8081, accompanied by 2nd lieut Frank Frewin Crump, RAF as gunner/ observer. Left  Villaverla aerodrome, Italy at 2.40pm August 1 1918, but was in combat with enemy aircraft.  Forced to land and crashed on Italian Grossa aerodrome at 3.00pm.  Aircraft damaged and both pilot and observer were injured.

    Pilot, Lieut M Ogilvy-Ramsay died of his injuries on  August 4 1918 aged 20. He is buried at  Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy. 

  • Battalion:

    Ramsay M O full ref AIR 76/417/13. Royal Flying Corps 139th Squadron.

    Max was training to be a pilot in 1917. It was not a requirement for an officer to be commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps to hold a Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate.

    Qualified pilots could apply for this certificate, on payment of a fee … but as there was a desperate need of pilots in France and Flanders, many pilots were often posted overseas a short time after qualifying… so there was no time to apply for a Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate. In addition, it was an expense a newly commissioned officer could little afford, as officers had to purchase all their own uniform and flying kit.

  • Other:

    His family had his gravestone inscribed with the phrase ” For this I was born“. In a letter which survives in the Nicoll family  there’s a brief mention of Max, “A generous lad. Got his wings. Shot down.“

  • Sources:

    a)            Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924

    b)            Census:

    c)            www.ancestry.co,uk

    d)           David Barnes

    e)            Nicoll family archive.