William Raynor
Lieutenant, Bengal Veteran Establishment
- Register No.
- 1027 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Bengal Veteran Establishment (register: Bengal Veterans Establishment) all Bengal Veterans Establishment VCs →
- Date of action
- 11 May 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 18th June 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in July 1795 at Plumtree, Nottinghamshire
- Died
- 13th December 1860 at for Ferozepore, India
- Memorial / grave
- on Tablet erected over the old Gateway of the Delhi Magazine
Digest of citation
For gallant conduct in the defence of the Delhi Magazine on 11th May 1857. Nine men, one of whom was Lieutenant Raynor, defended the magazine for more than five hours against superior numbers of rebels. There being no hope of help coming, they fired the magazine, and when the magazine blew up, five of them died with it. The explosion also killed 1000 mutineers
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RAYNOR, William. (reg No. 1027).
Lieutenant. Bengal Veteran Establishment.
London Gazetted on 18th June 1858.
Born in July 1795 at Plumtree, Nottinghamshire.
Died on 13th December 1860 at for Ferozepore, India.
Memorial on Tablet erected over the old Gateway of the Delhi Magazine.
* Digest of Citation reads: For gallant conduct in the defence of the Delhi Magazine on 11th May 1857. Nine men, one of whom was Lieutenant Raynor, defended the magazine for more than five hours against superior numbers of rebels. There being no hope of help coming, they fired the magazine, and when the magazine blew up, five of them died with it. The explosion also killed 1000 mutineers.
Additional information:. Rayner, Buckley, Willoughby and Forrest, all survived and were awarded the Victoria Cross. A Tablet was erected over the old Gate of the Delhi Magazine. It contains the inscription:
On 11th May, 1857, Nine Resolute Englishmen, George Dobree Willoughby, Bengal Artillery, in Command . Lieut. William Raynor, Lieut. George Forrest, Conductor G. William Shaw, Conductor John Buckley, Conductor John Scully, Sub-Conductor William Crow, Sergt. Bryan Edwards, Sergt. Peter Stewart, defended the Magazine of Delhi for more than five hours against large number of rebels and mutineers, until, the wall being scaled, and all hope of succour gone, these brave men fired the Magazine. Five of the gallant band perished in the explosion, which at the same time destroyed many of the enemy. This tablet, marking the former entrance gate to the Magazine, is placed here by the Government of India.
Additional information
Rayner, Buckley, Willoughby and Forrest, all survived and were awarded the Victoria Cross. A Tablet was erected over the old Gate of the Delhi Magazine. It contains the inscription: On 11th May, 1857, Nine Resolute Englishmen, George Dobree Willoughby, Bengal Artillery, in Command . Lieut. William Raynor, Lieut. George Forrest, Conductor G. William Shaw, Conductor John Buckley, Conductor John Scully, Sub-Conductor William Crow, Sergt. Bryan Edwards, Sergt. Peter Stewart, defended the Magazine of Delhi for more than five hours against large number of rebels and mutineers, until, the wall being scaled, and all hope of succour gone, these brave men fired the Magazine. Five of the gallant band perished in the explosion, which at the same time destroyed many of the enemy. This tablet, marking the former entrance gate to the Magazine, is placed here by the Government of India.
*
Register note: Oldest recipient in the list
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Tablet erected over the old Gateway of the Delhi Magazine
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