After attending the Wiener Neustadt Military Academy, Wilhelm Ramming was appointed in October 1834 as a lieutenant in the Cuirassier Regiment No.

During the First Italian War of Independence he served under FML Haynau and participated in the attack on Brescia and the siege of Fort Malghera, as well as in the battles against the insurgents at Pieve di Cadore.

During the Hungarian Revolution Ramming took part in the battles at Szered, Raab, Komorn and Szegedin as General Staff of the FZM Haynau.

For his services as chief of staff of the army during the summer campaign in Hungary, he was promoted to colonel and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa.

After the Peace of Villafranca in 1859, Ramming received the post of Feldmarshall-Leutnant in charge of the operative business in the General Quartermaster's Staff.