Sergeant-Major John Crawshaw Raynes (1887 - 1929)
Honouring a Brave Soldier - Harehills Cemetery, Leeds. - Thursday, 13th November 2008
The Yorkshire Post dated 7th November 2008 gave the following
report under the heading "Grave service to honour VC hero"
Published Date: 07 November 2008
By Andrew Robinson
The Yorkshire grave of a Victoria Cross recipient from the First World War is to
be rededicated on the 79th anniversary of his death.
It comes after a West Yorkshire policeman highlighted the story of Sergeant John
Raynes's heroism while researching the First World War.
Pc Anthony Child, of West Yorkshire Police, has arranged for the grave of Sgt
Raynes, a Leeds City police officer, to be rededicated at Harehills Cemetery in
Leeds.
The Force Chaplain Rev Inspector Andrew Earl will lead a special ceremony on
Thursday, November 13 at which Last Post will be sounded.
Sgt Raynes was awarded the VC while serving in France on October 11 1915.
The soldier, originally from Sheffield, went out under intense shell fire to
help a wounded comrade and carry him back to the dug-out. Moments later, a gas
shell burst t and, despite being badly gassed himself, he staggered across the
open stretch for his smoke helmet and gave it to his injured colleague. The next
day, he was injured when a house collapsed but still helped rescue others
trapped in the rubble.
Sgt Raynes, was awarded the Victoria Cross for "conspicuous bravery and devotion
to duty" and promoted Sergeant Major.
He was discharged from the Army in December 1918 and returned to Leeds City
Police where he was based at the old Millgarth police station and rose to the
rank of Sergeant.
His war injuries caused his health to deteriorate and he became paralysed. He
died at his home on Grange Crescent in Chapeltown, on November 13, 1929, at the
age of 42 and was buried at Harehills Cemetery.
The grave fell into disrepair but now the masonry and lettering have been
restored. Pc Child said: "Sgt Raynes,' deeds were truly heroic. It is only right
that he is remembered, and the restoration and rededication of his grave is the
most fitting tribute we can pay to his memory."
The force's City and Holbeck Sports and Social Club is planning to donate or
loan a collection of trophies, medals and awards to the Leeds City Museum.
The following day there was another report in the Yorkshire Evening Post
Published Date: 08 November 2008 by Bruce Smith
NEARLY 80 years ago more than 25,000 mourners queued to pay their respects at the funeral of a Leeds VC hero.
So many turned out on November 16, 1929, that the gates to Harehills Cemetery had to be closed as the Last Post and the firing party's graveside volleys echoed across the ranks of headstones.
But until recently the last resting place of former Royal Field Artillery Sergeant Major/Leeds Police Sgt John Crawhsaw Raynes lay forgotten by the public and in need of refurbishment.
Now the grave of the man so highly respected that 19 VC holders attended his funeral – eight as pall bearers – is being restored, thanks to Leeds police officer, PC Anthony Child.
An avid student of the First World War, PC Child came across Sgt Raynes' story and grave during his studies.
Now with financial backing from Leeds police sports and social clubs and the West Yorkshire Police Federation, the grave is being renovated.
Sgt Raynes' granddaughter, Mrs Pam Inman, told the YEP: "We are most gratified my grandfather is being remembered in this way. "He died when my father was a boy, but we have always been extremely proud of his bravery and aware of his great example.
"We have three sons and a daughter and many grandchildren who are also very glad to be able to count such a person in their family history."
The memorial will be rededicated at a ceremony which it is hoped will be attended by Mrs. Inman, from Scotland.
Born in Sheffield, John Raynes enlisted as a 17-year-old in 1904 and three years later married Mabel Dawson at Leeds Register Office. After eight years with the Royal Horse Artillery and Field Artillery he left the service in 1912 and joined Leeds Police. But with the onset of the First World War he was recalled to the colours and posted to 'A' Battery RFA 71st Brigade.
Courage
Sgt Major Raynes earned his VC for staggering courage and fortitude during the Battle of Loos on November 18, 1915.
Three times he went out into no man's land under heavy fire from armour-piercing bullets and gas shells to tend and rescue gravely wounded comrades.
On another occasion, after being pulled with head and leg wounds from the ruins of a bombed house, he insisted on helping pull other survivors to safety before reporting to his gun battery.
His VC citation read: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On 11th October, 1915, at Fosse 7 de Bethune, his Battery was being heavily bombarded... On cease fire being ordered Sgt Major (then Acting Sergeant) Raynes, went out under intense shell fire to assist Sgt Ayres, who was lying wounded forty yards away. He bandaged him and returned to his gun, when it was again ordered into action.
"A few minutes later cease fire was again ordered owing to the intensity of enemy fire and Sgt Major Raynes, calling on two gunners to help him – both of whom were killed shortly afterwards – went out and carried Sergeant Ayres into a dug-out...
"Sgt Major Raynes once more ran across the open, fetched his own smoke helmet, put it on Sgt Ayres, and then, himself badly gassed, staggered back to serve his gun.
"On 12th October, 1915, at Quality Street, a house was knocked down by a heavy shell, four men being buried in the house and four in the cellar. The first man rescued was Sgt Major Raynes, wounded in the head and leg, but he insisted on remaining under heavy shell fire to assist in the rescue of all the other men. Then, after having his wounds dressed, he reported himself immediately for duty..."
Sgt Raynes, was later severely wounded and suffered injuries which led to him being discharged as physically unfit in 1918, after the Armistice. His wartime bravery was recorded on Gallaghers cigarette cards. Though he returned to Leeds City Police and was promoted sergeant, his wounds to led to retirement in 1926.
Unable to attend the Victoria Cross reunion dinner given by the Prince of Wales on November 9, 1929, at the House of Lords, his fellow Yorkshire VC holders sent him a telegram with their greetings and regrets that he could not attend. He was visited by the Lord Mayor of Leeds Mr N G Morrison.
He died just 48 hours later, on November 13, 1929 – two days after Remembrance Day – at home in Grange Crescent, Chapeltown, Leeds. He was 42.
He left wife, Mabel, and sons, Kenneth,17, and Tom aged nine. His son Tom was tragically killed in a jeep accident on his way home on leave from the RAF in Kettering in 1945 and his elder son John also subsequently died.
According to an obituary in The Times, Sgt Raynes was bed ridden with leg paralysis due to spinal injuries for the final three years of his life and relied on his wife or constant support and nursing. He also suffered periods of depression.
At this funeral the coffin was taken on a Royal Artillery gun-carriage followed by Captain W E Gage, chairman of the Leeds 'Old Contemptibles', who carried Sgt Major Raynes' medals, which included the VC, 1914-15 Star, General Service Medal and Victory Medal.."
I was very fortunate to be invited to the ceremony and had the pleasure of meeting John's descendents, and Anthony who was instrumental in he restoration and rededication of his grave. Before the ceremony took place I took the opportunity to photograph the restored grave. A fitting tribute to a brave soldier.
Sources
Yorkshire Evening Post dated 7th November 2008 and 8th November 2008
This page was last updated on 04/08/25 11:02