World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Yorkshire, England, he served as a Sergeant in A Battery, Royal Field Artillery, British Army. On October 11, 1915, at Foss de Bethune, France, Sergeant Raynes went to the assistance of another Sergeant who was lying wounded. He bandaged the injured man, returned to his gun and when the battery ceased firing, carried the wounded man to a dug-out. When gas shelling started, he 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 and then having had his wounds dressed, reported for duty. For most conspicuous bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on December 4, 1915 and later achieved the rank of Battery Sergeant Major. After the war, he joined the Leeds West Yorkshire police force and died at age 42 in West Yorkshire, England.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Yorkshire, England, he served as a Sergeant in A Battery, Royal Field Artillery, British Army. On October 11, 1915, at Foss de Bethune, France, Sergeant Raynes went to the assistance of another Sergeant who was lying wounded. He bandaged the injured man, returned to his gun and when the battery ceased firing, carried the wounded man to a dug-out. When gas shelling started, he 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 and then having had his wounds dressed, reported for duty. For most conspicuous bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on December 4, 1915 and later achieved the rank of Battery Sergeant Major. After the war, he joined the Leeds West Yorkshire police force and died at age 42 in West Yorkshire, England.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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