Raymond Sidney Kerley

Story:
Raymond Sidney Kerley was born in Shillingstone, Dorset, on 6 Mar 1898 and baptised there on 23 Apr 1898 the son of Sidney Kerley and Jane Kerley (nee Hiscock).  By 1901 the family has moved to Sutton Waldron, Dorset.  Raymond had enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 652017).  He was attached to the 14th Reserve Battery and it is known he served abroad but not where.  During his service he sustained an injury to his left foot and was eventually discharged as being no longer fit for duty on 3 Apr 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 487211 plus a small pension for life.  There is no mention of any other awards on the Medal Index.   The 1921 Census shows him living in Bedchester, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as Agricultural Holdings on own account. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to The Street, Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer and still single.  He was living at Penn Hill Farm, Bedchester, Shaftesbury, at the time of his death on 21 Aug 1975 (Registered at the Poole. Dorset, Registry).  He was buried at Sutton Waldron on 27 Aug 1975.  His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster, Dorset.  (There is a family record showing he may have married in 1949 but this has not yet been substantiated.)