V.C. DIES FROM GRIEF

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 6 January 1930, Page 8

V.C. DIES FROM GRIEF

UNABLE TO ATTEND DINNER, Sergeant-Major John Crawshaw Raynes, V.C., died at his home in Leeds recently, says the “Daily Mail.’’ He was grieved greatly because he was unable to accept the invitation of the Prince of Wales to attend the V.C.’s dinner at the House of Lords owing to the fact that lie was bedridden—and had been for three and ahalf years in consequence of a war wound.

Sergeant-Major Haynes was a former member of the Leeds Police Force. He won his V.C’. at Fosse de Beth tint* in October 1915, when tie was a sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery He went out under intense shell fire to the assistance of a wounded sergeant until] recalled to his gun, but when “cease fire” was ordered lie returned to the wounded man and carried him to a dug-out. A gas shell burst at the mouth of the dug-out. and .Sergeant-Major Ray lies once more ran across the open, fetched his own smoke helmet, put it- on his comrade, and then, himself badly gassed, staggered hack to his gun. The following day, at Quality street, Sergeant-Major Haynes was buried in the cellar of a house, and wounded in the head and leg. but when rescue! lie insisted in remaining under heavy shell lii’e to assist in the rescue of the men.