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Location
In Churchyard of Christ Church, The Broadway, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Description Additional inscription on family grave. |
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Headstone
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Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN GILBERT RANKIN LATE COLR. SERGT. 2ND BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE HE TOOK PART IN THE CRIMEAN, INDIAN MUTINY AND ASHANTI CAMPAIGNS AND FELL ASLEEP ON NOV 4TH 1915 AGED 75 YEARS ALSO OF HIS SON PERCY RICHARD RANKIN KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE OCTOBER 1914 AGED 38 YEARS "UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS" Further Information
Percy Richard Rankin
IoW County Press
Saturday, November 6, 1915 RANKIN. - Nov. 2, at the Railway Hotel, Sandown, John Gilbert Rankin, ex-Sergt. 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade, aged 77. Page 8 SANDOWN CRIMEAN VETERAN'S DEATH. - At the age of 77 the death occurred at the Railway Hotel on Wednesday of John Gilbert Rankin, ex-Sgt. 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade. The deceased held medals for the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, and Ashanti campaign, bars for Sebastopol and Lucknow, and also the long service and good conduct medal. He was the father of Sgt.-Major Rankin, of the R.G.A., who was stationed at Sandown for some time, and is now serving in France. Altogether he has three sons and a grandson on the Western front. The funeral is fixed for to-day (Saturday). Military honours will be accorded by the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
IoW County Press
[1] Another of John Rankin's sons, believed to be Sgt Herbert Edward Rankin, born 1872, Kent, died 1944 Gosport, Hampshire.
Saturday, November 13, 1915 Page 7 SANDOWN MILITARY FUNERAL. - With full military honours the funeral of the Crimean veteran John Gilbert Rankin, ex-sergeant of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, took place at Christ Church on Saturday afternoon. The Rev. J. Agg-Large officiated and delivered a powerful address at the graveside in the presence of a large number of the general public. The 4th Batt. Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the 2/8th Hants (Isle of Wight Rifles), and the R.F.A. shared in paying the last honours to the veteran. The cortège left the Railway Hotel, where the ex-sergeant died, and proceeded along Station-avenue and the Broadway. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was placed on a gun carriage drawn by seven horses from the R.F.A. head-quarters., Parkhurst. The band of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, under Bandmaster Webster, and that of the 2/8th Hants, under Bandmaster Stoneham, attended, the former playing Chopin's "Funeral march" and the latter the "Dead march" in "Saul." en route to the church. A firing party, under Sergt. Elms, headed the procession, and O company of the Royal Warwickshires were also included in the procession, Capt. Branwell being in command. The bearers were members of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, under Sergt.-Major Harley, viz., C.S.Ms Turner, Ironmonger, Chadwick, and Taylor, and C.Q.M.S. Miller, Henderson, King, and Hutchings. On arriving at the church the firing party formed a guard of honour from the lych-gate to the church door. Three volleys were fired, and drummers Kinzitt and Tibbs, of the 4th Royal Warwickshires, sounded the "Last Post." The chief mourners were Mrs. Rankin (daughter-in-law), Mr. R. Capel, Miss A. Chappell, and Mr. J. Cox (Shanklin). Five beautiful floral tributes were placed on the grave from the following; Sergt.-Major [1] and Mrs. Rankin; with kindest thoughts of Grandad from Alice, Reg. and Mrs. Capel; Lieut.-Col. A.E. Williams and officers 4th Batt. Royal Warwickshire Regiment; in sincere sympathy, from the members of the Sergeants' Mess, 4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The deceased was a Freemason, having been initiated at Meerut, India, just half a century ago. Three generations of the Rankin family have served in the Rifle Brigade. In addition to the three sons and one grandson already mentioned as being on the Western front, the deceased has another grandson a prisoner of war in Germany. Mr. J. Frampton carried out the duties of undertaker on behalf of Mr. H. Colenutt. |
Memorials & Monuments
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