A Great War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel K. C. Raikes, Monmouthshire Regiment, who served on the staff of S.H.A.E.F. in the Second World War, and was thanked for his contribution to the planning of the Operation Torch landings in North Africa

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. K. C. Raikes, Mon. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. K. C. Raikes); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, reverse officially dated 1946, with integral top riband bar, mounted as worn, the M.B.E. still with the 1st type riband, light contact marks to first and third otherwise very fine (8) £600-£800

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Kenneth Cochrane Raikes was born at Malpas, Monmouthshire on 9 May 1889, and was educated at Shrewsbury School and Oxford, serving in both Officer Training Corps. He joined the Royal Fusiliers on 15 September 1914, and was rapidly promoted to a commission in 1st Battalion the Monmouthshire Regiment on 20 October 1914. He served with the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 February 1915, and was slightly wounded by gunshot later that year; he is also recorded as having been Company Commander of D Company. Appointed to be Staff Captain G.H.Q. France in February 1918, and D.A.Q.M.G., G.H.Q. France, in February 1919, he was promoted Captain in December 1921. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 9 April 1917 and 8 November 1918), and his service records indicate a brief period of three weeks’ service in Egypt during the Great War.

Raikes saw further service during the Second World War in France from 10 September 1939 to 17 June 1940, and was promoted Major in June 1940. He subsequently served with No. 1 Movement Control Group, and in December 1941 was appointed to Western Command Movement Area Home Movement Control Group. A letter to the recipient from Major-General N. G. Holmes, dated 16 November 1942, itself forwarding on a letter of congratulations from the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, congratulated him on a brilliant piece of staff work in the movement and loading of ships for the Operation Torch landings. In 1943 he served as D.A.Q.M.G., Abergavenny, followed by the same post in Chester 1944. In January 1945 he was appointed D.A.Q.M.G. to S.H.A.E.F., and was promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel in June 1945. Awarded the Efficiency Decoration the following year (London Gazette 14 March 1946), he relinquished his commission on account of age on 19 August 1948.

Raikes was a keen cricketer, playing the occasional First Class match for the Marylebone Cricket Club, and Minor Counties Cricket for Monmouthshire from 1908 to 1934, making 116 appearances for the county. He died at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, on 29 November 1973.

Sold together with the recipient’s Bestowal Document for the O.B.E.; two Mention in Despatches Certificates (these both mounted on card); and extensive copied research, including First and Second World War Service papers; letter of thanks for his ‘brilliant piece of staff work’, for Operation Torch; and an original group photograph taken in front of the Pyramids, in Egypt, believed to include Raikes.