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Raymond Rawling (1888-)


Tailor's Manager from Thornley Colliery served in the Royal Naval Air Service


Raymond Rawling was born 03-Apr-1888 in Thornley Colliery to William Rawling (b. 1860) a Railway Traffic Agent and Jane Gibson (b.1865) a dressmaker. At the time of the 1891 census the family lived in Bow Street, Thornley. Raymond had an older brother Earnest Reginald (1887-1893) but sadly he did not survive childhood. Raymond lived in Albert Street, Thornley at the time of the 1901 census and this was his mother’s address as his next of kin on his service record.

By 1911, Raymond was boarding in Newcastle where his occupation was described as a Hosier. He had become a Tailor’s Manager by the time he joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 20-Jul-1917, to serve for the duration of hostilities. Raymond was given the service number of F31330 and the rank of Aircraftman 2nd grade with the trade of Labourer. He entered the service like nearly all new RNAS recruits through Crystal Palace and was then posted to RNAS Pulham, an airship station 18 miles south of Norwich. This was a major base for airship patrols over the North Sea. After exactly 6 months of service, Raymond was promoted to Aircraftman 1st grade and shortly after this was posted to Leysdown Airfield on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

When the RAF was created on 01-Apr-1918 Raymond was transferred to the new service like nearly all RNAS men. He was given the revised service number 231330 and his equivalent rank in the RAF was Private 1st Class. After 8 months at Leysdown Raymond returned to Pulham for a short time and finished his war service with a 3 month posting to Wrest Drayton. He was demobbed through Clipstone Dispersal Camp on 13-Mar-1919 and after his final 1 month’s furlough was transferred to the G Reserve on 12-Apr-1919.

Raymond Rawling was awarded the British War Medal for his service in WW1.

Civil Parish: Thornley

Birth date: 03-Apr-1888

Armed force/civilian: Air Force

Residence: 293 Bow Street, Thornley (1891 Census)
283 Albert Street, Thornley (1901 Census)
13 York Street, Newcastle (1911 Census)
Albert Street, Thornley (1919 mother’s address on service record)

Military service:

Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F31330, Aircraftman 2nd grade, 20-Jun-1917
Promoted to Aircraftman 1st grade, 20-Dec-1917
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 231330, Private 1st class, 01-Apr-1918
Discharged to G Reserve 12-Apr-1919

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham

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