{"product_id":"coast-artillery-regiment-royal-artillery-ww2-medal-group-8th-army-north-africa-from-newcastle","title":"Coast Artillery Regiment Royal Artillery WW2 Medal Group 8th Army North Africa from Newcastle","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWW2 British Medal Group of 4 - Gunner William Ramm, Royal Artillery – Coast Artillery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939–45 Star\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfrica Star, with 8th Army clasp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal 1939–45\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn box of issue with medal slip.\u003cbr style=\"mso-special-character: line-break;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--\u003e\u003cbr style=\"mso-special-character: line-break;\"\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWilliam Ramm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e10 January 1908\u003c\/b\u003e in \u003cb\u003eNewcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland\u003c\/b\u003e, and spent his early life in the Tyneside area. By the outbreak of the Second World War he was married and living in Newcastle, later recorded at \u003cb\u003e62 Springfield Road, Blake Caw, Newcastle-upon-Tyne\u003c\/b\u003e, the address to which his medals were eventually issued. He died in \u003cb\u003e1965\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 57.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRamm enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e12 December 1940\u003c\/b\u003e, at a time when Britain was rapidly expanding its coastal defences in response to the threat of German invasion. He initially underwent training with the \u003cb\u003e70th Coastal Defence Training Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e at the \u003cb\u003eCoastal Artillery Training Centre\u003c\/b\u003e, where gunners were instructed in the operation of heavy coast artillery, range-finding, fire control, and defence against enemy naval and air threats.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHome Defence and Coastal Artillery Service\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e4 April 1941\u003c\/b\u003e, Ramm was posted to \u003cb\u003e539 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e, a unit responsible for manning fixed coastal batteries in the United Kingdom. Coast Regiments played a vital role in defending key ports, estuaries, and industrial centres, operating heavy guns designed to counter enemy warships and protect Britain’s shoreline.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e19 June 1942\u003c\/b\u003e, he transferred to \u003cb\u003e417 Coast Battery\u003c\/b\u003e, continuing in the coast artillery role. During this period, Britain’s coastal gunners maintained constant readiness, conducting drills, live firing exercises, and extended watches, particularly during periods of heightened invasion concern.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOverseas Service – North Africa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRamm’s service overseas began with deployment to \u003cb\u003eNorth Africa\u003c\/b\u003e, where British coastal artillery units were tasked with protecting ports, harbours, and supply routes vital to the Eighth Army’s operations against Axis forces. His overseas service in this theatre qualified him for the \u003cb\u003eAfrica Star\u003c\/b\u003e, awarded with the \u003cb\u003e8th Army clasp\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting direct association with Eighth Army operations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e15 May 1943\u003c\/b\u003e, he was posted to \u003cb\u003eY Coast Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e, followed shortly after by a transfer on \u003cb\u003e17 June 1943\u003c\/b\u003e to \u003cb\u003e575 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e. This regiment had been formed in North Africa and was responsible for manning A, B, and C coastal works under \u003cb\u003eGHQ Middle East Forces\u003c\/b\u003e, providing artillery defence for strategic ports and coastal installations. The regiment later absorbed personnel from other coast units and was reorganised during 1943 before being disbanded in \u003cb\u003eNovember 1944\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eReturn to the United Kingdom and Final Service\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRamm embarked for return to the United Kingdom on \u003cb\u003e22 October 1944\u003c\/b\u003e, as the strategic emphasis shifted away from coastal artillery and towards mobile and infantry roles following Allied successes overseas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eUpon his return, he was posted to \u003cb\u003e508 (Tynemouth) Coast Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e18 November 1944\u003c\/b\u003e, a Territorial Army unit with deep local ties to the North East. This regiment manned heavy guns at key defensive positions such as \u003cb\u003eTynemouth Castle\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eFrenchman’s Battery\u003c\/b\u003e, guarding the Tyne approaches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e14 February 1945\u003c\/b\u003e, he transferred to \u003cb\u003e526 (Durham) Coast Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e, another TA formation responsible for coastal observation and defence along the North East coastline. As the war drew to a close, coastal artillery units were gradually stood down, and on \u003cb\u003e1 June 1945\u003c\/b\u003e Ramm returned to \u003cb\u003e348 Coast Battery\u003c\/b\u003e, Royal Artillery, where he completed his wartime service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe was \u003cb\u003edischarged on 28 November 1945\u003c\/b\u003e, Class “A” release.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53364966228314,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260118_113248.png?v=1768765816","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/coast-artillery-regiment-royal-artillery-ww2-medal-group-8th-army-north-africa-from-newcastle","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}