'Burma Boy' Andrew lived his colourful life to the full

ANDREW Ramage, who served as a "Burma Boy" during the Second World War, has died aged 89.

Andrew came from a strong military background, a descendent of one of Edinburgh's greatest war heroes, Henry Ramage, who won the Victoria Cross.

He was born in Marshall Street in 1920, the oldest son of James and Christina Ramage. His father had received the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the First World War for saving comrades from a mustard gas attack.

This affected his health however, so doctors advised him to try living in a warmer climate. When Andrew was four, he took his wife and three children to live in Detroit, in the United States. They returned to Scotland in the early 1930s, settling in Easter Road. By this time, the couple had six children, who attended the local Castle Hill School.

After leaving school Andrew trained as a butcher, and worked for his uncles, George and Norrie. In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signallers, and won the Africa Star Medal for his service.

He was then posted to Burma, where he worked as a dispatch rider, driving a motorbike to deliver messages, often in very dangerous conditions.

One of the highlights of this time was meeting Vera Lynn, who signed a five-pound note for him.

He was released from service in 1946, and began working as a tram driver in Bristol. Here he met Gwendoline Daisy Sharpe at a theatre, and the couple started to go out together.

They kept in touch when he moved back to Edinburgh, and married a short time later.

At first they lived with Andrew's mother in Craigmillar, but they soon moved to their own house in the Inch.

He worked as a tram driver and bus driver, before setting up his own business, Tru-View, as a television engineer.

The couple had five children, Bryan, Andy, Linda, Derek and Colin. Sadly, Gwennie developed MS, and Andrew nursed her for 15 years, until her death in 1992.

In his later years, he enjoyed attending tea dances in Musselburgh, as well as spending time with his growing number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was very proud of his children, and two of his sons, Colin and Andy, became well-known folk singers.

He moved in with his eldest son, Bryan, and his partner Angela Trotter, in Dalkeith last year, who cared for him. He was delighted when Angela's research found he was related to Henry Ramage, a hero of the Crimean War.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep last Wednesday.

Angela said: "He was a great family man, and loved taking his grandchildren out. He had a very colourful life, and travelled all over the world. He was always smiling and he was a very dapper man. Whenever he went out, he would wear a shirt and tie and a Trilby hat.

"He came from a very patriotic family, and was very proud when he found out that Henry was his great-great-great-great-uncle."

As well as his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he leaves his brother Alex, who lived opposite him in the Inch.

A funeral service will be held at Liberton Northfield Church on Thursday at 10:30am.