Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Indian campaign pair awarded to Major-General T. Raikes, C.B., latterly C.O. of H.M’s 102nd Foot (Royal Madras Fusiliers): he had shared in the regiment’s honours throughout the Indian Mutiny - when it was better known as Neill’s “Blue Caps” - winning the C.B. and a Brevet Majority
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Captn., 1st Madras Fusrs.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (Major, 1st Madras Fusrs.), mounted for wear from an old buckle brooch-bar, minor contact marks and edge bruising, very fine (2) £1400-1800

Thomas Raikes, who was born in London in October 1822, successfully applied for a Cadetship in the H.E.I.C. in October 1840, arrived at Madras in May of the following year, and was appointed an Ensign in the 1st Madras European Regiment later that month. Clearly a promising young officer - being described variously as ‘very zealous’, ‘attentive’ and ‘efficient in all respects’ - he gained advancement to Lieutenant in January 1845, but he did not witness any active service until the 2nd Burma War, when he was present with his regiment at the relief of Pegu on 14 December 1852 and at the second investment of that place in January 1853. In April of the latter year Raikes also commanded a detachment of his regiment at the capture of Belling, a successful operation that resulted in the loss of just two of his men. He was advanced to Captain.

He next shared in the many engagements fought by his regiment in the Indian Mutiny, a full record of which is to be found in Neill’s Blue Caps, by Colonel H. C. Wylly, C.B., together with regular mention of Raikes. Thus references to his part in a gallant raid to spike the enemy’s guns at “Cawnpore Battery”, Lucknow, when the “Blue Caps” were ‘exposed to a very destructive fire from the tops of houses and loopholes’ on their return journey, and compelled to leave behind some of their wounded, and, indeed, his subsequent part in another attack against the enemy in “Phillips’ Garden”.

In fact Raikes was more or less in constant action throughout the duration of the Mutiny, the following summary of his services appearing in Hart’s Army List: ‘Served in the suppression of the mutiny in Bengal in 1857-58, and present with Havelock’s Column at the actions of Futtehpore, Aoung, Pandoo Nuddee and Cawnpore; commanded a detachment under General Neill for the defence of Cawnpore during Havelock’s first entry into Oude; afterwards present at the actions of Bithoor, Mungarwar and Alumbagh, the relief of Lucknow on 25 September and the defence of the Residency until 22 November, the occupation of the Alumbagh under Outram, and the final capture of Lucknow; the campaign in the Oude in 1858, including the passage of the Goomtee at Sultanpore, and other minor affairs. Commanded a Field Column of all arms from 7 to 22 October 1858, and defeated the enemy at Shahpore (Brevet of Major; Medal with two clasps; a year’s service for Lucknow, and C.B.).’

A brief account of the Shahpore operation, written by a fellow Madras Fusilier, Lieutenant J. A. Woods, appears in Neill’s Blue Caps: ‘On 7 October I went on an interesting and important raid under Brevet-Major Raikes with the Right Wing and No. 6 Company of ours, 2 R.H.A. guns, a Troop of 7th Hussars, some of Hodson’s Horse under Palliser, 300 of the 5th Punjab Infantry and 25 Sappers & Miners. It was a military picnic in lovely weather and in beautiful country. Marching about a dozen miles a day, in a week we came suddenly one forenoon upon the object of our search. Our cavalry scouts reported a force was then half-a-mile in front, and we came upon the enemy eating their breakfast in fancied security, a few hundred of them on our side of the river, the bulk not yet having crossed. The whole of our little cavalry force charged down upon them at once, closely followed by the 2 guns and the greater part of the infantry. Fifty yards on our side of the river was a ditch concealed by long grass; this was crossed by the Horse, including the artillery, at full gallop; a few Hussars and one of the guns came to grief here, they were all mixed up together but emerged undamaged. The rest profited by their warning and stopped at the brink of the ditch, the guns pounding the flying rebels at short range. A score more of them drowned while crossing by the narrow ford ... ’ A few days later, having blown up a nearby fort, where many concealed arms were found, Raikes brought his field column safely back to Sultanpore.

Latterly C.O. of the 102nd, from July 1862 until November 1870, his final appointment was as senior officer, Centre District, Madras Army. Raikes, who had been advanced to Major-General in October 1877, died in July 1880.