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Thomas William Rayment (1885-1950)


Hairdresser from Meadowfield served in the RAF in Egypt


Thomas William Rayment was born 24-Mar-1885 in Meadowfield in the parish of Brandon and Byshottles. His father was Thomas Rayment (b.1854), originally from Essex, who had found work as a Coke Drawer at the local colliery. His mother was Mary Ann Granger (b.1856) from Dinsdale in County Durham. Thomas had two older sisters Alice (b.1879) and Martha (b.1882).

Thomas and his family were living at 18 John Street, Meadowfield at all three of the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses. It is interesting to note that at the time of his death on 02-Apr-1950 Thomas’s address is given as 18 John Street, Meadowfield.

Thomas worked as a Hairdresser and the 1911 Census notes that he worked on his own account. In 1911 he married Louisa Pearson (1892-1928). Louisa was born in Spennymoor and was working as a Domestic Servant for the Colliery Under-manager in Brandon in 1911. They had two children, Thomas (b.1912) and Mary (b.1914).

Thomas joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 18-Sep-1917 for the duration of the war. He was given the service number F38147 and the rank of Aircraftman 2nd grade. He spent his first month at Crystal Palace and was then posted to Manston. He was given the new rank of Aircraftman 1st grade with effect from 18-Mar-1918.

When the RNAS became part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 01-Apr-1918 Thomas was given the revised service number 238147 and his equivalent rank in the new service was Private 1st class. In July 1918 Thomas joined the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and was posted to Port Said probably to guard the Suez Canal.

Thomas remained in Egypt until mid-December 1918 when he returned to Britain and was posted to the RAF Depot where he remained until he was discharged on 04-Feb-1919. His service record shows that he was discharged unfit with “chronic interstitial inflammation of the lungs”. For this disability Thomas’s record shows he was awarded a pension of 27 shillings and 6 pence for 26 weeks convalescence. Thomas returned to his discharge address of 99 High Street, Langley Moor and at some point between 1919 and 1928 (when his wife died) he had moved back into the family home at 18 John Street which was his address at the time of his death in 1950 aged 65.

Thomas William Rayment was awarded the British War Medal for his service in the RNAS and RAF.

Civil Parish: Brandon and Byshottles

Birth date: 1885

Death date: 1950

Armed force/civilian: Air Force

Residence: 18 John Street, Meadowfield (1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses)
99 High Street, Langley Moor (discharge address on service record)
18 John Street, Meadowfield (1951 National Probate Calendar)

Military service:

Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F38147, Aircraftman 2nd grade, 18-Sep-1917
Promoted to Aircraftman 1st grade, 18-Mar-1918
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 238147, Private 1st class, Apr 1918 to Feb 1919
Discharged unfit with lung disease 04-Feb-1919

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham

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