Robert Napier Raikes
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General Robert Napier Raikes in 1889 became General of the Remount responsible for the provision of horses throughout the Indian army.
He was born 15 October 1813 in Drayton the son of Robert Napier Raikes the vicar of Gayton and rector of Hellesdon all in Norfolk, England; and the grandson of Robert Raikes, the promoter of Sunday schools. He was at Addiscombe Military Academy in 1828 as a cadet. He entered the Indian Army as a cadet in the Bengal Staff Corps on 19 November 1829 sailing from Portsmouth 29 November, arriving Calcutta 14 May 1829. He then travelled across country, only reaching his regiment at Cawnpore on 7 November. Apparently his men carried the old flint-lock musket, of which Wellington's maxim was "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." He first returned home "on furlough" 35 years later.[1]
Captain 1844. He married Harriet Beckett in 1854, and as a Major from 1854 in the 67th Bengal Native Infantry, they had three infant daughters die in Agra during the 1857 Indian Mutiny. Additionally, they had four sons and two daughters. Adjutant to the native Grenadiers, and later adjutant to the First Gwalior Cavalry.
[edit] Indian Mutiny harmony
"Being a good linguist, having picked up all the dialects, able to speak one at one place and another ten miles away, while he was Major, he managed to gather the whole of the treasury at Mynpoorie [Mainpuri], 20,000 rupees in all, and sent it into Agra with two loyal Sikhs, marching his men to within ten miles of that city. They quoted a native proverb that "an ill-wind was blowing", and refused to go any further. There was no mutiny; they just disbanded themselves and went home. Being devoted to him, as he rode away they formed up on each side of the road, with tears pouring down their faces, and bade him farewell." [2]
Colonel 1866, Lt General 1881, General 1889 (aged 76!!). He was reputed to have shot a hundred tigers. He returned to England in 1870 and later retired to Watford and Malvern. He died aged 95 on 23 March 1909.
Medals: Gwalior campaign 1843; Second Anglo-Burmese War 1852/3; Indian Mutiny.
Their four sons were:
- Robert Haig Napier Raikes born 2 April 1861, probably in India
- Herbert William Napier Raikes born 1 June 1865 in Cheltenham, England, married in USA
- Reginald Durie Napier Raikes born 28 January 1874
- Cyril Probyn Napier Raikes born 12 November 1875[3]
[edit] References
- ^ The Newberys in Six Generations page 65, printed by Bemrose and Sons Limited, Derby and London, 1911
- ^ The Newberys in Six Generations page 65, printed by Bemrose and Sons Limited, Derby and London, 1911
- ^ Pedigree of Raikes compiled by Duncan Raikes, published 1980, ISBN 0-900592-73-7 that is an updated version of Pedigree of Raikes privately published 1930 by Phillimore & Co, 120 Chancery Lane, London
