PEOPLE IN PORTSMOUTH

 

Lives Lived and Lives Lost - Portsmouth and the Great War

DAVID EDWIN RAEBURN
 
Although neither of his parents were born in Portsmouth David Edwin and all six of his siblings were. His parents were George B. and Margaret Emma Raeburn (nee Cox), both born in 1901 at Kilmarnock and Woolston, Southampton respectively. They were married in Southampton in 1881 and within a few years had moved to Portsmouth, probably because George was a boilermaker with a job to take up in HM Dockyard.
 
The children were Margaret (b. 1886), May (b. 1889), Emma (b. 1891), George (b. 1893), David Edwin (b. 1885), William (b. 1888) and Alexander (b. 1900). The family's first home was at King Street but this was exchanged for 46 Powerscourt Road before the 1901 census and again for 10 Havant Road, North End for the 1911 census.
 
David Edwin had left home by 1911 and had possibly joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. Though details of his early army life are currently unclear it is known that he was with the 76th Siege Battery when he died in July 1917. It's likely that he was wounded in battle and taken to hospital in Vlamertinghe where he was buried.
 
FURTHER INFORMATION
 
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) list Fitter Corporal David Edwin Raeburn (35169), Royal Garrison Artillery, died 27/07/1917. Buried at the Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery (Grave Ref: VIII.B.15.).
 
David Raeburn is commemorated on the Buckland United Reformed Church WW1 Memorial, the All Saints Church WW1 Memorial and on the Cenotaph. He is not listed in "The National Roll of the Great War", Section X.
 
Tim Backhouse
November 2014