Raymond William King came from a Tollesbury family and in August 1939 he married at Springfield. Three months later he joined the Royal Navy Reserve and served on H.M. Yacht Essex Maid. During the following autumn he became ill and after three months' illness he died in a Royal Navy hospital in Kent. His widow lived in Old Court Road, Springfield.

Raymond was born in the Maldon registration district in 1916, the only son of Harold Robert King and Emily M. Backhouse. He had an older sister, Nena May King (1911-1979).

On 5th August 1939 Raymond married Marjorie Phyllis Rawlingson at All Saints’ Church in Springfield. She was the 23 year-old only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. Rawlingson of 12 Old Court Road in Springfield. At the time his parents were living at 2 St. John’s Street in Tollesbury, while he was a 23 year-old carpenter who lived at 6 Phillip's Cottages in Springfield.

In November 1939 Raymond volunteered for the Royal Navy Reserve and had seen service as Seaman Steward LT/JX185800 on board the patrol vessel H.M.Y Essex Maid.

During the autumn of 1940 Raymond became ill, and after three months' illness he died in a naval hospital in Kent. He was 25 years old.

Raymond's funeral was held at Springfield All Saints' Church on 7th December 1940 with interment afterwards at Holy Trinity Church, Springfield.

Raymond William KING, Seaman Steward, H.M. Yacht Essex Maid, Royal Naval Patrol Service

Died from illness in Kent. Aged 25

A Chelmsford newspaper reported:

"Tollesbury Sailor's Death. The funeral took place on Saturday of Seaman Steward Raymond William King, of 12 Old Court Road, Chelmsford, whose death at a naval hospital after an illness of nearly three months occurred on Dec. 2.

The deceased, who was only 25, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. King, highly esteemed residents for 30 years of Tollesbury. Last August he married the only daughter Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Rawlingson, a well-known Springfield family.

On Nov. 1, 1939, he voluntarily entered the R.N.R., and saw service with H.M. Yacht Essex Maid. He was home on leave early in September. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and other relatives.

Service in All Saints' Church, Springfield, preceded the interment in Holy Trinity Churchyard. The Rev. R. C. C. Hargreaves (rector) officiated. The coffin, of English oak, was draped with the Union Jack.

The funeral was furnished by Messrs. A. J. Andrews Son, 20 Duke Street."

His widow remarried in 1943 and she died in 1999.

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