ELDRIDGE, Raymond Horace

Raymond was born 1924 in Newport to Albert Edward & Lucy ELDRIDGE who were living in Ryde at the time of Raymond’s death. In 1938 the family were recorded as living at 2 Coppins Bridge in Newport.

A unit of the 15th Cruiser Squadron, Aurora participated in the invasion of Sicily & the Salerno landings (Operation Avalanche) before moving into the Aegean in October 1943. While escorting British destroyers reinforcing troops on the island of Leros on the 30th of October, she was attacked by German Junkers 87 & 88 aircraft off Castellorizo, sustaining a 500 kg bomb hit abaft the after funnel. The explosion & subsequent fire killed 47 crew. Aurora was forced to withdraw to Taranto for repairs. Raymond died of his wounds the day after the attack on the 31st of October 1943 & was landed in Egypt.

Raymond is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in Eygpt with over 3,000 of his service comrades. He is also remembered on the Newport Borough War Memorial.