Brown, Raymond Ernest

Raymond was born on 28 September 1989 at Newnham, Hertfordshire only son of Ernest William and Florence Fanny (nee Gray) Brown. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

Raymond enlisted with the Royal Navy on 7 April 1915 for a period of 12 years. He served on numerous ships during WWI, mostly depot ships, in the Mediterranean Theatre of War. One was HMS Diligence which served as the depot ship for the 12^th Destroyer Fleet. In 1920 he was granted free discharge and left the Navy in 1921. Raymond survived the War.

He was awarded the 15 Star, the Victory Medal, and the British War Medal.

Before enlisting he was a bookbinder.

Raymond married Grace Tofts at the end of 1923. They had two children, twins, Mary K and Peter J. Mary died at the age of 25.

The 1939 census shows them living in Letchworth with Raymond a bookbinder journeyman.

Raymond died on 30 May 1977 at Letchworth, Hertfordshire.