Henry James Raby
Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1014 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: Naval Brigade) all Naval Brigade VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 June 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- the 26th September, 1827 at Boulogne, France
- Died
- 13th February 1907 at his home, 8, Clarence Parade, Southsea,
- Memorial / grave
- at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire and in the Town Hall, Llanelli, Wales
Digest of citation
After the assault on Sebastopol on 18th June 1855, a soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been shot in both legs, was seen calling for assistance. Commander RABY and two other men, Captain of the Forecastle John Taylor and Boatswain's Mate Henry CURTIS, climbed over the breastwork, all three then proceeding the 70 yards across the open space, all the time under continuous heavy fire from the enemy, making their way towards the salient angle of the Redan. They succeeded in getting the wounded man to a place of safety, all the time under the imminent risk of losing their own lives
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RABY, Henry James. (reg No 1014).
Lieutenant. Royal Navy. * London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on the 26th September, 1827 at Boulogne, France.
Died on 13th February 1907 at his home, 8, Clarence Parade, Southsea, Hampshire.
Memorial on grave at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire and in the Town Hall, Llanelli, Wales.
Digest of Citation reads: After the assault on Sebastopol on 18th June 1855, a soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been shot in both legs, was seen calling for assistance. Commander RABY and two other men, Captain of the Forecastle John Taylor and Boatswain's Mate Henry CURTIS, climbed over the breastwork, all three then proceeding the 70 yards across the open space, all the time under continuous heavy fire from the enemy, making their way towards the salient angle of the Redan. They succeeded in getting the wounded man to a place of safety, all the time under the imminent risk of losing their own lives.
* Naval Brigade.
Additional information:. Rear Admiral RABY was the first person, ever, to receive the Victoria Cross at an Investiture on Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. It was presented by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. (Even though he was not the first person to be awarded the VC, that honour going to Mate Charles Davis LUCAS). He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He also held the Légion d'Honneur of France, the Order of Medjidie, the Crimean, Sardinian and Turkish Medals with Clasps for Sebastopol and Inkerman He was the son of Arthur Turnour Raby, of Llanelli, Carmarthen, Wales. He was educated at Sherborne School, entering the Navy in 1842 when he joined HMS Monarch. In 1848 he was on Mates rate, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1850. He served aboard HMS Wasp on Africa's West Coast until 1854 when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Black Sea, where he fought in the trenches from 23rd October 1854 to 16th September 1855. It was as second-in-command of a ladder party on the Redan, that he won his VC. More to be added.
From Alf's photographs
Raby VC - Highland Rd, Portsmouth (gallery)
Additional information
Rear Admiral RABY was the first person, ever, to receive the Victoria Cross at an Investiture on Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. It was presented by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. (Even though he was not the first person to be awarded the VC, that honour going to Mate Charles Davis LUCAS). He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He also held the Légion d'Honneur of France, the Order of Medjidie, the Crimean, Sardinian and Turkish Medals with Clasps for Sebastopol and Inkerman He was the son of Arthur Turnour Raby, of Llanelli, Carmarthen, Wales. He was educated at Sherborne School, entering the Navy in 1842 when he joined HMS Monarch. In 1848 he was on Mates rate, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1850. He served aboard HMS Wasp on Africa's West Coast until 1854 when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Black Sea, where he fought in the trenches from 23rd October 1854 to 16th September 1855. It was as second-in-command of a ladder party on the Redan, that he won his VC. More to be added.
* Naval Brigade.
Hampshire.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire and in the Town Hall, Llanelli, Wales
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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