Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Raines, Julius Augustus Robert

1550141Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement, Volume 3 — Raines, Julius Augustus Robert1912Henry Meredith Vibart

RAINES, Sir JULIUS AUGUSTUS ROBERT (1827–1909), general, born at Rome on 9 March 1827, was only son of Colonel Joseph Robert Raines of Cork, of the 77th, 82nd, 95th, and 48th regiments, who had served in the Peninsular war, by his wife Julia, daughter of Edward Jardine of Sevenoaks, Kent, banker. In boyhood he lived with his mother's family at Sevenoaks, and attended the school there. He received his military education at the Ecole Militaire in Brunswick (where an uncle by marriage, Baron von Girsewald, was master of horse to the duke ). Thence he passed to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He entered the army as ensign 3rd Buffs on 28 Jan. 1842, and in the same year exchanged into the 95th regiment. He was promoted lieutenant on 5 April 1844, and captain on 13 April 1852.

He served throughout the Crimean war, 1854-5. For his services with the Turkish army in Silistria, prior to the invasion of the Crimea, he long after received the first-class gold medal of the Liakat. After the affair at Bulganak he carried the Queen's colour at the battle of the Alma. He was at the battles of Inkerman and Tchemaya, and through the siege and fall of Sevastopol he served as an assistant engineer, being severely wounded in the trenches during the bombardment of 17 Oct. 1854, and being present in the trenches at the attack on the Redan on 18 June 1855. He received the medal with three clasps, and was mentioned in despatches 'as having served with zeal and distinction from the opening of the campaign.' The Sardinian and Turkish medals and fifth class Medjidie were also awarded him. A brevet of major was granted him on 24 April 1855, and he became major on 1 May 1857.

Raines commanded the 95th regiment throughout the Indian Mutiny campaign in 1857-9. He was present at the assault and capture of Rowa on 6 Jan. 1858, when he received the high commendation of the governor of Bombay and the commander-in-chief for 'gallantry displayed and ably conducting these operations.' He led the left wing of the 95th regiment at the siege and capture of Awah on 24 Jan., and at the siege and capture of Kotah on 30 March was in command of the third assaulting column. At the battle of Kotah-ke-Serai he was mentioned in despatches by Sir Hugh Rose 'for good service.' He was especially active during the capture of Gwalior on 19 June, when he was wounded by a musket ball in the left arm, after taking by assault two 18-pounders and helping to turn the captured guns on the enemy. For gallantry in minor engagements he was four times mentioned in despatches. The 95th regiment, while under his command in Central India, marched 3000 miles (Lond. Gaz. 11 June and 10 Oct. 1858, 24 March, 18 April, and 2 Sept. 1859). He received the medal with clasp, was promoted to lieut.-colonel on 17 Nov. 1857, received the brevet of colonel on 20 July 1858, and was made C.B. on 21 March 1859. Raines next Saw active service at Aden, where he commanded an expedition into the interior of Arabia in 1865-6. The British troops captured and destroyed many towns and ports, including Ussalu, the Fudthlis capital, and seven cannon. Raines received the thanks of the commander-in-chief at Bombay. Subsequently Raines was promoted major-general on 6 March 1868, lieut.-general on 1 Oct. 1877, and general (retired) on 1 July 1881, and was nominated colonel-in-chief of the Buffs, the East Kent regiment, in 1882.

He was advanced to K.C.B. on 3 June 1893 and G.C.B. in 1906, and in the same year he received the grand cross of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog. He died on 11 April 1909 at his residence, 46 Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, W., and was buried in the parish church, Sevenoaks. He married on 15 Nov. 1859 his cousin, Catherine Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of John Nicholas Wrixon of Killetra, Mallow, CO. Cork. He had no issue.

Raines published in 1900 'The 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment in Central India.'

[The Times, 1.3 April 1909; Dod's Knightage; Walford's County Families; Hart's and Official Army Lists; Raines, The 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment in Central India, 1900.]

H. M. V.