Military History

Raymond is listed as being killed in action on 9th November 1918, however given the below it is more likely that he was as killed on the 8th. He was originally buried at map reference 57a.K.26.a.5.4 and his remains were moved to Mauberge Cemetery sometime in 1919.

The following is an extract from the book 20th Hussars in the Great War by Major J.C. Darling. The 20th's war diary contains an almost identical entry and has not been transcribed.

"Orders for the 8th [November 1918] were that the regiment should again pass through the infantry at 7.15 a.m. Mounted patrols were sent out earlier than this , and these reported that the Germans were still holding the same line as on the previous day. No further mounted advance was possible before noon. By that hour our infantry had established themselves in the northern edge of Avesnes, whereupon the enemy evacuated the town.

Mounted patrols of "B" Squadron that had been out since dawn, under Lieuts. Michell and Ralli, at once pushed on north and south of Avesnes, and, passing round the town, met at Flaumont . The 97th Infantry Brigade advanced through Avesnes and dug in on the eastern edge of it. The "B" Squadron patrols were then withdrawn.

On their way back Lieut. Ralli's patrol passed a railway truck full of ammunition that was on fire; it blew up just as they were going by, killing one man [Raymond] and wounding Lieut. Ralli and two other ranks, Lieut. Ralli later dying in hospital on the 14th November.

In Lieut. Ralli the regiment lost a very promising young officer. He had only joined recently, and I fancy he went into action for the first time at the Battle of Amiens. His death was particularly sad, occurring, as it did, three days after the end of hostilities; in fact, on the 11th of November his relations had not even heard that he was wounded".