Name
Raymond Victor Childs (MM)
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
34177
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
20th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 90 to 93.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Shephall memorials
Pre War
Raymond was born in 1895 in Amport, Andover, Hampshire, and baptised there on 20 October 1895. Amport is an address which consistently appears in the records below.
His parents were Frederick and Eliza Childs (née Cooper), and they had married on 14 April 1884 in Tretire with St Michael Church, Hereford, near where she was born (Pencoyd, Herefordshire). At the time of Raymond’s baptism his father was working as a woodman.
In 1891, before Raymond’s birth, the family were living in Amport, Hampshire. Present were both parents: Frederick (28), and Eliza (32), with Frederick working as a woodman. Their children were:
Frederick William (6), Beatrice (3) and Elsie W (2).
In 1901, still in Amport, the family were living at the Estate Lodge, Shepherds Hill, Amport House. Present were both parents, although Frederick was now working as a domestic house servant. Of the children previously listed, Elsie was absent, but new siblings were Mabel (9), Alice (8), Raymond Victor (5) and Reginald (3).
Raymond’s mother (Eliza 44) died on 30 October 1901 and was buried in Amport on November 2nd, her address at that time was recorded as Keeper’s Hill Lodge, Amport. Her death is sadly explained by the next line in the burial records ‘Eliza Childs, Keeper’s Hill Lodge, Amport, Nov 2 (date of burial) 7 ½ hours (age)’. Three years later (1904), Frederick married Harriet Speechley from Thorney, Cambridgeshire.
By 1911, Frederick (49) and his second wife (38) were living at The Green, Amport. Frederick working as a general labourer. The census recorded that they had been married for 6 years and had 2 children Dorothy (5) and Maude (2). Of Frederick’s previous children, Raymond and Reginald were still present; Raymond at 15 was working as a general labourer. Also present was Harriet’s father, John Speechley
(76) and recorded as a widower and retired carpenter.
Raymond left the family home sometime after 1911 and was living in Shephall, near Stevenage, Herts., and he was there when he enlisted on 6 October 1914 as Private 3379 in the Hertfordshire Regiment Territorial Force, ‘G’ Company. At that time his address was Old Red Lion, Shephall, near Stevenage. He was described as 19 years and 1 month old, 5’ 6 1/4” tall, with a 34 ½” chest when fully expanded.
He was recorded in the SDITGW records as born in Amport, Hants., living in Stevenage (actually Shephall), when he enlisted in Hertford and was ‘Formerly 3379, HERTS REGT. M.M.’.
Wartime Service
Raymond’s ‘Home service’ started on 6 October 1914 in the Herts Regiment. On 14 January 1916 he was later appointed as unpaid acting Corporal. Then, as a qualified machine gunner, he was appointed as a Lance Corporal on February 15th and remained so until his discharge after a service of 1 year and 212 days.
He was discharged on 4 May 1916 and this was to enable him to enlist in the regular army, and so Raymond attested as Private 34177 into the Machine Gun Corps (J) on the same day.
At this time, his trade was recorded as a labourer carpenter. He gave his home address as The Green, Amport, Andover, Hants, which would have been his parents’ address, and his father, Frederick Childs, was listed as his next of kin at that address. His service in the 2/1st Herts Regiment Territorial Forces was noted.
He was then described as 20 years and 8 months old, 5’ 7” tall, 140 lbs, with a 35” chest, when fully expanded, and of good physical development. His distinguishing marks were noted as tattoos on both forearms.
He was at Grantham from 4 May 1916 and had a date of departure to join the B.E.F. overseas recorded as 18 August 1916. However, this was either an error or it was brought forward. If brought forward then it was possibly because of the losses in the Battle of the Somme, which had commenced July 1st.
Raymond actually embarked from Folkestone on 17 July 1916 and arrived in Boulogne the same day and the Base Depot at Camiers the day after.
He joined his Company O.C. 8 Coy. in the Field, on July 23rd and posted missing the following day. Luckily he was found on the 25th with a gunshot wound to his left arm and taken to a hospital in Etaples, and admitted on the 26th. He was treated and then sent to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at 23 General Hospital, also in Etaples. He was then sent to the Base Depot in Camiers, arriving on 8 August and then re-joined his Company in the Field 9 September 1916.
Despite the fighting training continued and Raymond was sent on a machine gun course on 26 December 1916, but must have developed scabies because he was admitted to a hospital in Dannes Camiers returning to duty on the 31st.
On 12 January 1917 he received a gunshot wound to his foot and was admitted to No. 20 General Hospital, again at Dannes Camiers, returning to duty on 22 March 1917, although this time with O.C 61 Coy. With them he received a reprimand on March 31st for not wearing equipment while on sentry duty. However, he was still appointed as Acting Lance Corporal in the Field on 3 June. This appears to be to cover the absence of another Lance Corporal, although he then seems to have retained the rank. He was reprimanded again on June 21st for “Having a dirty canteen.” Later, on 19 October, he was appointed as Acting Corporal, in the Field. Again, this was to cover the absence of a Corporal. However on the 27th, he lost the acting rank and his Lance Corporal stripe for neglect of duty. Strangely perhaps, given his loss of rank, he still received 10-days leave to the UK on October 31st re-joining his Company on 18 November 1917.
On 23 March 1918 during the massive German Spring Offensive, he seems to have been transferred, or at least was with, 20 Company Machine Gun Corps and on that day he was posted as missing.
He was posthumously awarded a Military Medal which was Gazetted on 10 April 1918, obviously for previous acts of bravery and we do not know the date of these. It could be assumed that they related to the period when he died, but at that time he was recorded as in the 20th Company, Machine Gun Corps. yet his award form records that he was with the 61st Coy.
At the time his MM was Gazetted, he may still have been listed as missing, giving the family hope that he was living and a prisoner of war. Certainly, his sister Elsie, made enquiries of the British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List of Wounded & Missing to find out, and an enquiry was recorded on the 2 August 1918. Clearly the reply was negative and eventually Raymond’s death was presumed to be 23 March 1918.
Additional Information
His father submitted a statement of the names of Raymond’s living relatives on 29 June 1919, these confirmed the following: Frederick as his father and Harriet as his stepmother, his brothers as Frederick William (32), Reginald (21); his sisters as Beatrice (30), Elsie (28), Mabel (26), Alice (24) and half-sisters Dorothy (14), Maud (11). All still living at the home address.
After his death £24 7s 10d pay owing was authorised to go to his father on 9 October 1919, this included a war gratuity of £20. His father acknowledge receipt of this sum on 15 September 1919.
His pension cards record Mr Frederick Childs as his father and as his dependant, living at The Green, Amport, nr Andover, Hants. The pension, if allocated is not recorded. These records were later amended to his stepmother Harriet Childs, suggesting that Frederick had died.
After Raymond’s death inquiries were made in September 1919 of his father, in respect of the awarding of the Military Medal, it read “I hold the Military Medal awarded to the late 34177 Pte. R. Childs, Machine Gun Corps, and in accordance with the War Office Authority and regulations I have to enquire whether you wish to have this Decoration presented to you publicly (or) forwarded to you by registered post.”
The answer given was: “F Childs who is the Head Woodman on Lord Winchester's Estate has brought me this memo and at his request I am writing to say he would be grateful if you will give directions for the Military Medal, awarded to his late son Pte. R. Childs, to be forwarded to him by registered post. He would rather not have the medal presented to him publicly.” Signed by W J Allison.
His Death Plaque and memorial scroll were received by his father on 24 September 1920.
Raymond is also commemorated on the family grave in St Mary’s Churchyard, Amport, Hampshire. His inscription reads:
ALSO OF THEIR SECOND SON
RAYMOND VICTOR CHILDS M.M.
61ST COY. M.G.C.
FELL AT THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI
MARCH 23RD 1918. AGED 22 YEARS
HE GAVE ALL FOR THOSE HE LOVED
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Clive Walker, Martin Baker
