Came up, we're told, from the ranks (4)
I believe the answer is:
rows
'the ranks' is the definition.
(rank can mean a row or line of things)
'came up we're told' is the wordplay.
'came up' becomes 'Rose' (I've seen this before).
'we're told' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'rose' sounds like 'ROWS'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for rows that I've seen before include "Arrangements side by side in lines" , "Puts one's oar in" , "Columns" , "Scraps" , "emotional exchanges" .)