Cyril Raikes

Cyril Probyn Napier Raikes
Major Cyril Raikes
Born	12 November 1875 Swanmore, Hampshire, England
Died	16 January 1963 Sidmouth, Devon, England
Service/branch	Royal Engineers
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	Boer War 1st World War, Mesopotamian Campaign
Awards	Military Cross (1st World War) Boer War with four bars
Other work	Director British Oxygen Company

Cyril Probyn Napier Raikes was awarded the Military Cross in the 1st World War Mesopotamian Campaign flying in the British army's Royal Engineers monitoring the oil pipelines there. He had previously fought in the Boer War.

Cyril Raikes was born 12 November 1875 in Swanmore, Hampshire, England the son of General Robert Napier Raikes. He was a Lieutenant in the Boer War, South Africa 1900-1902 gaining a medal and four bars. Before the 1st World War he developed water services in Egypt and married Dora Roberts 1 February 1905. In the 1st World War he was awarded the Military Cross and three other medals in the Mesopotamian Campaign, flying in the British army's Royal Engineers, monitoring the oil pipelines there.

He became the Overseas Director of the British Oxygen Company traveling extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, South Africa and South America to develop business there. He lived at The Mount, Godalming, Surrey. During the 2nd World War while still working for the British Oxygen Company and staying at the Thatched House Club, St James's, he served as a fire watcher in London, for instance on the top of St Pauls Cathedral. He then lived in Rolle Cottage, Sidbury and finally Sidmouth both in Devon until his death 16 January 1963. He had two daughters Iris Mary Raikes (born 1 March 1909, died 9 June 1995, living on Exmoor) and Daphne Veronica Raikes, a physiotherapist (born 29 January 1911, and lucidly living to 101 in Beccles, Suffolk, she died 16 October 2012), both without issue.