Raymond Victor Easter

A Lance Corporal with the 7th Battalion, Raymond Victor died on 3rd of July 1916 at the age of 20. 

Raymond was a son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Ann Easter. He was born at Lowestoft on 5 December 1895 and baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 27 December 1895 and at that time his family lived at 14 Stevens Street, Lowestoft.

Raymond attended Hervey Street Scholl and, from 2 February 1903, Saint John's School, Lowestoft. By 1911 his family was living at 26 Clemence Street, and Raymond worked as an errand boy. Later his family would live at 27 Church Road, Lowestoft.

Raymond volunteered to join the Army. He enlisted at Lowestoft and joined the Suffolk Regiment. he served with the 7th Battalion and was with the Battalion when they landed at Boulogne on 30 May 1915.

On 3 July 1916 the 7th Battalion took part in a frontal attack on the village of Ovillers, in the Somme region of France. Although initially successful the attack faulted because, when in the village, German troops were able to infiltrate the successive lines of the British attack and inflicted heavy casualties. The 7th Battalion lost 21 officers, and 458 men, killed wounded or missing, but some of those missing did return to the battalion in the following days.

Raymond was among those missing and later presumed to have died 'on or since 3 July 1916'. 

Raymond initially received a battlefield burial at Map Reference 57d.x.7.d. and later, in 1919, reburied at Ovillers Cemetery.