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A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
RAINE, Thomas Christer - son of William and Elizaberth Vest (née Robson) Raine, was born on 21 Oct 1873 in Darlington, Durham, England. He was christened n 21 Jan 1874 in Holy trinity, Darlington, Durham. Thomas married Mary JaneWilkinson on 07 Oct 1903 in Church St Church, District Berwick, Northumberland, England. Thomas immigrated to Canada in 1911 at the age of 37. He departed Liverpool on 15 Apr 1911 on the SS Campania and arrived in New York, NY, USA - destined for Prince Rupert, BC. His wife Mary Jane and their 6 year old daughter Doris Mary followed 3 months later, departing Liverpool aboard the SS Laurentic. They arrived in Quebec on 15 Jul 1911. Thomas and Mary had 2 children, Doris Raine and Ronald Noel Victor Raine. Thomas died on 15 Jan 1958 in Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona from a Myocardial infarction. He is buried in the Burnaby Heritage Cemetery, Burnaby, BC. Thomas's wife Mary was born on 21 Jul 1881 in Bells Hill, Belford, Northumberland, England to Francis and Mary (née Grieve) Wilkinson. She died on 2 Jul 1976 in Victoria, BC. (Source: Raine Family Genealogy)
RAINE, Thomas Christer - Born in England 1873. Trained as a telegrapher with the British Post Office. Raine emigrated from the UK with his wife and Doris, their six year old daughter. He joined as a wireless operator in May 1911 and was broken in at Gonzales Hill. He was then transferred to Point Grey Wireless as the third operator. Since there was no real road between Vancouver and the Point Grey Station he spent the first year living on station in a tent with his family. He shows up in the 1911 census making $625/yr. He was at Estevan in the 1913-14 period. 1916 Dominion accounts have Tommy listed as an operator on the "Galiano" at $60/month. At that post he earned $613.16, perhaps a 10 month posting. 2nd operator (with wife and daughter) at Digby Island in 1916 for a short period of time. According to the 1922 BC Directory he was operating at the Alert Bay station. (In 1926 he took home $1,966.50). Raine retired in October 1938 after 27 years. At that time he was the Officer in Charge of the radio station VAB at the Vancouver Merchants' Exchange. After retirement Tommy pounded brass on several vessels, the last being the CPR's S.S. Princes Patricia in 1956. Died 1958. (Source: roughradio.ca)
Ships served in: HMCS GALIANO - Served in the DGS Galiano in 1913 as W/T.O. 1c (Wireless Telegraph Operator 1st Class) * Listed as a W/T.O. 2c (seniority 01 Mar 1916) (Navy List Jan 1917) HMCS SHEARWATER (Shore Establishment Esquimalt) - Appointed to Shearwater 01 Mar 1916 as a W/T.O. 2c, Add'l (Navy List Jun 1917) * Note: According to David Freeman's "Canadian Warship Names" - the shore establishment Shearwater was HMCS SHEARWATER II. HMCS RAINBOW (For Duty at Triangle Island) - Appointed to Triangle Island 17 Mar 1917 as a W/T.O. 2c, RCNVR (Navy List Dec 1917). Appointed Acting W/T.O. 1c, RNCVR (seniority 01 Mar 1918) (Navy List May 1918). * Last noted in the Navy List for Mar 1919 as an Acting W/T.O. 1c serving at Triangle Island.
(1) Article on the retirement of Thomas Raine (2) Funeral announcement for Thomes Raine (3) Headstone for Tomas Raine
Photo credits: (1 & 2) Courtesy of Frank Statham (3) Source: Find-a-Grave - British Columbia Genealogical Society
Thomas Raine with his wife and daughter Photo credit: W.J. Bowerman Collection // Ian Haynes, Victoria BC, Collection Owner / Curator
Click on the above photo to view larger images
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For Posterity's Sake 
