Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The group of three miniature dress medals attributed to Major-General T. Raikes, Indian Army, Order of the Bath, 19 x 19mm., gold and enamel, straight bar suspension, gold buckle on ribbon, reverse centre missing; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu, silver, a struck piece, the disk set into a separate mount, with silver buckle on ribbon; Indian Mutiny, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow, silver, with silver buckle on ribbon, second with contact marks, fine, others good very fine except where stated (3) £150-170

Thomas Raikes was born on 26 October 1822 and educated by Dr Burney of Gosport. He was commissioned as an Ensign on 25 December 1840, joining the 1st Madras European Regiment on 18 May 1841. Promoted Lieutenant on 26 October 1848, he served in the Burmese War of 1852-53, including the relief of Pegu and subsequent operations in the vicinity, and commanded a detachment at the recapture of Beeling. He was promoted Captain on 4 March 1854 and in this capacity served during the Indian Mutiny. Raikes was present with Havelock’s Column, at the actions of Futtepore, Aoung, Pandoo, Nuddee and Cawnpore, and commanded a detachment under General Neill for the defence of Cawnpore during Havelock’s first entry into Oudh. Afterwards he was present at the actions of Bithoor, Mungarwar, Alumbagh, relief of Lucknow on 25 September 1857 and the defence of the Residency until 22 November 1857, occupation of the Alumbagh under Outram and capture of Lucknow. He was made a Brevet-Major on 20 July 1858 and commanded a field column between 7 - 22 October 1858, defeating the enemy at Shahpore. Raikes was appointed Major on 1 January 1862, Lieutenant-Colonel on 30 July 1862 and gained the rank of Colonel on 30 July 1867. In 1869 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was placed on Half Pay in November 1870. On 27 September 1871 he was posted as Lieutenant-Colonel to the 44th Foot and on 1 July 1875 was promoted to Brigadier-General. Again placed on Half Pay in September 1877, he attained the rank of Major-General (retired) on 1 October 1877. Major-General Raikes died at Stow-on-the-Wold on 10 July 1880. Sold with copied service history.