Lily Florence Ray

A Civilian, Lily died on 2nd of July 1944 at the age of 40. 

Lily was born at Sustead, Norfolk, on 28 August 1904, a daughter of Ernest Henry and Florence Maud Gooch. In 1911 her family lived at 195 Saint James' Street, Coltishall. The 1921 Census shows Lily as a visitor staying with her grandmother, Sarah Ann Gooch, at Aldborough, Norfolk. By 1921 Lily's parents were living at Bridge Road, Ludham, and by 1939 they had moved to Blacksmith's Loke, Hopton. Subsequently they lived at 2 Widow's Cottages, Somerleyton. 

On 23 May 1931 Lily married Frank Charles Ray at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Albury, Surrey. They were both living at Albury and Frank was a railway signalman. By 1939 they were living at 1 Halton Gardens, Mitcham, Surrey. Later they lived at 37 Trenholme Road, Penge. 

At 09.28 a.m. on 2 July 1944 a V-1 Rocket struck Trenholme Road, Penge. Twenty-one houses were destroyed in Trenholme Road and 300 more houses in the local area were damaged. Lily was at 37 Trenholme Road at the time and was one of eleven people killed by the rocket.

See: FlyingBombsandRockets,V1 & V2 Dulwich E21 & SE22

Lily's brother Arthur died in 1940 whilst serving in Egypt. Her brother died in the loss of the submarine Triad in 1940.