Christopher Allen Raven

A Private with 1st Bn., Christopher died on 8th of September 1915 at the age of 20. 

Christopher was born at Carlton Colville in 1895, a son of Robert and late Sarah Eliza Raven. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville, on 29 September 1895. In 1901 they lived 'near Ivy Farm', Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 Cristopher's mother had died and his father married Harriet. In 1911 his family lived at 7 Beccles Road, Oulton Broad, and Christopher was a general labourer.

Christopher volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. Initially he served with a Lancer regiment, service number 7165, before being transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was posted to the 1st Battalion and embarked for Gallipoli on 17 July 1915. He joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on 31 July 1915. On 20 August they moved to Suvla Bay to take part in the attack at Scimitar Hill the following day. The Battalion strength at the beginning of 21 August was 717: at the end of the day only 300 men were left, 82 had been killed and the rest wound. 

While we do not know exactly when Christopher was wounded, it is probable that it was during the Battle of Scimitar Hill. Christopher was evacuated to Egypt and he died of wounds at Cairo. 

Christopher's brother Alfred died in 1915 and his brother Thomas died in 1924 as a result of his war service.