Sgt Arthur Frederick Raven

Surprisingly, there were two Arthur Ravens from Brentwood who served in the first world war.

This Arthur Raven had already been a soldier before the war started. He had actually left the army for some time to work for George Davey's dairy - now the site of Wetherspoons. He immediately enlisted again when the first world war broke out and was sent to France.

In 1916 he was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal after his actions in France, described in the Essex Chronicle below:

Sergt Arthur Raven, of the 8th Batt. Norfolk Regt., a Brentwood man, has been recommended for the D.C.M. for exceptional gallantry in rescuing an officer under heavy fire. The story of the event for which Sergt. Raven has received the official congratulations of General Maxse, commanding his Division, reads almost like an old romance for both Sergt. Raven and the officer whom he rescued are known at Brentwood, though only chance brought them together in the same regiment. Sergt. Raven was originally in the 2nd Norfolk which was stationed at Brentwood for some years, and on leaving the service he worked for Messrs. G. Davey and Sons, dairymen. Soon after the outbreak of war he rejoined, and has spent most of his time since in France, where has been through in some hard fighting. A month or two ago he went out of the trenches with a party of four noncommissioned officers and Capt. Almack [Edward Poulton Almack of Hutton Mount] on a dangerous exploit. Almack was wounded, and the party were under heavy fire. Notwithstanding this, Sergt. Raven brought the officer back from tbe German line. Unfortunately, the officer died later of his wounds, but the rescue was effected under most trying conditions, and the rescuer received many congratulations. Amongst others, Mrs Almack, mother of the wounded officer, who lives at Hutton Mount, wrote thanking Sergt. Raven for his brave action.

Arthur seems to have continued to be unshaking in the face of danger, as we hear about him again in the Essex Newsman in September 1917:

On Wednesday [19th September 1917], at Thorndon Tark. Brentwood, Regimental Sergt. Maj. A. F. Raven, Norfolk Regt. whose house is at Brentwood, was presented with two military awards for gallantry. Details of one of the actions for which he was awarded the Military Medal were given in theee columne some time ago, together with a portrait of the gallant soldier. Since then Raven was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field and having been several times mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig in dispatches for conspicuous gallantry. The Military Medal was awarded "for bravery in bringing in a severely wounded officer from No Man's Land off patrol." In addition to these medals Raven holds three parchment certificates for bravery given by General Maxse.

Arthur survived the war and returned to Brentwood. In 1930 he and his wife moved to 25 Kensington Road in Romford - he died in Romford 17 years later at the age of 67.