John Crawshaw Raynes

John Crawshaw Raynes VC (April 28, 1887 - November 12, 1929) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Raynes, from Sheffield in South Yorkshire, joined the Royal Horse and Field Artillery in 1904 and served until 1912, then joined the Leeds police force.

Details

He was 28 years old, and an Acting Sergeant in the 'A' Battey 71 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 11 October 1915 at Fosse 7 de Bethune, France, Sergeant Raynes went to the assistance of another sergeant who was lying wounded. He bandaged the injured man and returned to his gun, then, when the battery ceased firing, carried the wounded man to a dug-out and when gas shelling started, put his own gas helmet on his injured comrade and, badly gassed himself, went back to his gun. The next day he was buried, with others, under a house which had been shelled. As soon as he had been extricated he insisted on helping to rescue the others, then, having had his wounds dressed, reported for duty.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum "(Woolwich, England)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/yorkshir.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(West Yorkshire)"
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10339758 Find-A-Grave profile for John Crawshaw Raynes]