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Lieutenant STEPHEN LANCELOT RAY, R.N.R. Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Rhodora. Age 48 Died 11.2.1940
Lieutenant, STEPHEN LANCELOT RAY, Royal Naval Reserve, was the son of Stephen Daniel and Ada Harriet Ray. He was the husband of Maude
Aly’s Ray of Gosport. Lt. Ray had been engaged for 18 years on the engineering side of yachting. His first commission, was on the motor-yacht ‘Vonna’ (132 tons), owned by Lord
Wavertree, and afterwards he gave special service on the motor-yacht ‘Endymion’ (301 tons) as guarantee engineer.
For the 15 years, prior to the Second World War, and before serving on the yacht. Lt. Ray had been employed by Mr. Lionel de Rothchild OBE,
initially as chief engineer on the motor-yacht ‘Anne’, (ex-Rhodora (121 tons), then on the motor-yacht ‘Rhodora’ (700 tons), first as second engineer, and
then as chief. When the yacht was taken on active service. He was appointed Engineer Lieutenant, R.N.R., and in this role, he was serving at the time of his death.
The funeral took place at Stoke Road (Gosport Methodist Church, and then on to Ann’s Hill Cemetery, on Friday 16th February 1940, of
Lieutenant Stephen Lancelot Ray, R.N.R., who died at Birkenhead on Sunday 11th February 1940, at the age of 48. His death was as a result of wounds received during a heavy bombing raid on the
dock’s area his vessel’s mooring place. Mrs Ray (widow), MASTER C. RAY (son), Mr Bert Ray (brother), messr’s Ted Ray and Holder (uncles), Mr Fred Ray (nephew), Messrs S. Arms, C. Dyard
and Holmes (cousins) attended the funeral. Also Misses H. and V. Courtman (nieces), Mrs Ray (sister in law) Mr Courtman (brother in law), Messrs Cook, Green, Humby, Weaver, Reeves and L. Humby.
Lieutenant STEPHEN LANCELOT RAY, R.N.R., is laid to rest, Plot 30 Space 19, and is commemorated by a Family Memorial headstone.
Private HERBERT HENRY READ 21918, Private, 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Age 24 Died 21.12.1915
Private HERBERT HENRY READ, was the son of Mrs Emma Read, who lived at No. 18 Zetland Road, Gosport. He was serving with the 15th battalion of
the Hampshire Regiment. He was wounded in action during November, and had been medically evacuated from France. He was brought back to the Military Hospital at Winchester. After further surgery, to avoid
gangrene, he seemed to be making good progress, but he caught a cold, which developed into pneumonia, from which he passed away on the 21st December 1915. He was returned to his hometown for interment.
Private HERBERT HENRY READ, was buried on the 28th of December 1915, and is laid to rest, Plot 132 Space 64, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Aircraftsman Class 1 HARRY REED, R.A.F. 630523, Aircraftsman 1st Class, No.930 Barrage Balloon Squadron, Royal Air Force. Age
19 Son of harry and Edith Reed of Lea Hall, Birmingham, Warwickshire. Died
12.8.1940
SEE – Corporal ARTHUR REGINALD OWEN BARRELL, R.A.F.
Mrs MARY ANDERSON REEKIE Age 34 Master MICHAEL JOHN REEKIE
Age 11 Miss PAMELA MARY, REEKIE Age 8 No. 35 Church Path, Gosport. All died 23.5.1944
Mrs MARY ANDERSON REEKIE, a widow, and her two children MICHAEL JOHN, and PAMELA MARY, were at their home at No. 35 Church Path, Gosport, on
Tuesday 23rd May 1944, when the sirens announced another air raid was about to occur. The expected raid, started at 30 minutes past midnight, and lasted for just over and hour. RAF Station,
Gosport’s Log Book, records that ‘Some bombs fell on the airfield, but caused no casualties and little damage’ a further reference to that night concluded ‘Bombs were falling in
the neighbourhood’, and concluded ‘The evident target, appears to be Portsmouth harbour area, as it main objective’.
How right, that short entry was! Portsmouth Dockyard and central Gosport were getting a hammering, causing substantial damage to properties but
thankfully few casualties. Mr Reekie and her children were sheltering in their home, a bomb hit the house in Church Path, the floors caved in and the roof fell in. Mrs Reeke and her children, Michael
John and Pamela Mary, stood no chance under the tremendous weight of the collapsing masonry. It was not until the early hours, that their bodies were recovered. Many other homes in the street were badly
damaged by the blast and debris.
Mrs Mary Anderson Reekie and her children were buried on Friday 26th may 1944, and are laid to rest, Plot 145 Space 24, and are commemorated by
a Civilian War Grave headstone.
Private DAVID GEORGE REES 14600586,
Private, Devonshire Regiment, 231st Brigade, 50th (Northumberland) Division, XXX Corps Age 19 Died 9.6.1944
Private DAVID GEORGE REES, was the son of Frederick George and Helen Nora Rees, of Bridgwater, Somerset. He was badly
wounded in the allied amphibious landings, during the liberation of Northern France area of Normandy. On Thursday 8th June 1944, he was wounded attempting to dislodge a German machine gun nest, which had
stopped further movement inland. Despite being wounded, he managed to call back vital information, which allowed the gun nest to be silenced. Private Rees, was taken aboard a hospital ship, but sadly on
the return voyage back to this country he succumb o his wounds on Friday 9th June 1944.
Private DAVID GEORGE REES, was buried on Monday 12th June 1944, in the War Graves Section (see plans on
back pages), and is laid to rest, Row 4 Grave 12, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
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