Many thanks to the Museum of Richmond for nubbing this piece

Joseph Raffe was a proper Richmond boy. He was the second of three sons of Arthur and Emma Raffe who lived at 20 Beatrice Road, Richmond. Both Joseph and his older brother Albert enlisted.

Joseph went to Kingston to enlist and was assigned to the Border Regiment. This was unusual as the majority of Richmond residents were served in the East Surrey Regiment.

After completing his training he was sent to fight in Northern France. While taking part in the fighting around the Somme, Joseph was seriously wounded in battle. He was sent home and honourably discharged from the army as they didn't believe he would survive his injuries. They were correct and Joseph died from his injuries on September 7 1916, aged just 19. He was buried with full military honours in Richmond Cemetery.

The Raffes suffered another blow when their eldest son Arthur was killed near Ypres on October 26 1917.

The sacrifice of Richmond residents to the war was great which is why we do what we can do remember them.

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