Raymond Walton Booth

Raymond was the second son of John William Booth and Ann Eliza Booth (nee Ward), who had five children; Percy James (birth registered 1891 J/F/M), Raymond (b. 1892 A/M/J), Nelly/Nellie (b. 1894 (O/N/D), Leonard William (b. 1896 J/A/S) and Ada b. 1898 A/M/J). All the children were born in Nottingham. John William Booth was born in Kirkby Laythorpe, Lincolnshire, in about 1867 and Ann Eliza Ward in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in about 1864. They were married in 1889 (marriage registered J/A/S Nottingham). 1891 Census: Address, 3 Holland Terrace, Ashling Street, Sneinton. John and Ann with their eldest child, Percy (8 months). 1901 Census: Address, 43 Sutton Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham. Father, John W age 33, occupation brass finisher. Mother: Ann Eliza age 36. Siblings: Percy J age 10, Nelly age 6, Leonard W age 4, Ada age 2. Raymond was at home on the night of the census. John William Booth died in 1902 at the age of 35 (death registered O/N/D Nottingham). 1911 Census: Address, 4 Berlin Terrace, Bunbury Street, Meadows. Ann (46) widowed. Percy (20) an engineering labourer, Raymond (18) occupation presser in a picture frame department, Nellie (16) a bobbin labeller, Leonard (14) a warehouse boy and Ada (12) was still at school. The family was still living at 4 Berlin Terrace when Raymond enlisted in the Army in September 1914. However, by 1917 when the Army wrote to Ann Eliza about the return of her son's personal possessions the family was living at 4 Rushcliffe Terrace, Bunbury Street, Meadows. In 1919 Raymond's mother completed a form giving details of her son's surviving blood relatives. (This document was found in the Army Reserve Attestation (Special Reservists) papers of 4660 Private Walter Booth 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action on 2 August 1915. However, a copy also survives with Raymond's Short Service Attestation papers.) The form dated 24 April 1919 was witnessed by Rev K Shaw, vicar of St Saviour’s. Mother: Ann Eliza Booth, 4 Rushcliffe Terrace, Bunbury Street, Notts Father: John William Booth (dead) Brothers: Percy J Booth (27) and Leonard W Booth (22), address as Ann Eliza Booth Sisters: Nellie Booth (24) and Ada M Booth (20), address as Ann Eliza Booth Ann Eliza Booth died in 1923 aged 59 (death registered December Nottingham).

In 1911 he was a presser in a picture frame department. When he joined the Army in 1914 he gave his occupation as labourer.

4 Berlin Terrace Nottingham

MGC (Infantry) 42nd Coy. Raymond attested on 8 September 1914 at the age of 22 years 156 days and joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps in Winchester on 11 September 1916. During his period of home service he was admitted to Ravenscroft Hospital, Seaford, from 15 November 1915 to 30 November 1915 suffering from scabies. He embarked for France on 25 February 1916 and joined the 7th Bn on 16 March 1916. However, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 1 February 1917 and was killed three months later on 3 May. He had served a total of 2 years and 238 days. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

CWGC Additional information: 'Brother of Percy James Booth, of 4, Rushcliffe Terrace, Bunbury St., Meadows, Nottingham.' His mother was his legatee. In memoriam published 3rd May 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BOOTH. – In loving memory of Raymond W. Booth, M.G.C., killed in action May 3rd, 1917. One year has passed our hearts still sore, as day by day we miss him more; his welcome smile, his dear sweet face, never on earth can be replaced. – Sadly missed by his loving mother, sisters, and brothers.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918