Alwyn Leslie Raimes (1885-1967)
Director of Stockton Chemical Company served with 5th DLI awarded DSO
Alwyn Leslie Raimes, the son of Frederick and Elsie Marion Raimes, was born in Cranbourne Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees on 9 November 1885. He had a brother and two sisters and lived in Stockton-on-Tees until he joined the army. He was educated at the Leys School, Cambridge and King’s College Cambridge. On 22 November 1907 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI). On 15 September 1909 he was transferred to the 5th Battalion and promoted to lieutenant. In 1911 he was a director of the family firm of Raimes and Co., manufacturing drugs and chemicals. On April 1912 was promoted to captain in the volunteer battalion.
After the outbreak of the First World War he left the family firm and joined the regular battalion, landing in France on 17 April 1915. He was promoted to temporary major a month later. He was wounded twice during the first few months of 1916 and in May 1917 was mentioned in despatches.
Alwyn was promoted to major in August 1917 (backdated to June 1916). In 1918 was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). After the war he was briefly attached to the 5th (Defence Force) Battalion, and on 12 September 1922 he married Hannah Exley May Samuel, daughter of Jonathan Samuel MP, in Kirkby cum Broughton, Stokesley, Yorkshire. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration on 9 October 1923 and on 4 October 1924 he was transferred to the Territorial Reserve.
In 1931 Raimes published his book ‘The 5th Battalion D.L.I. 1914-1918’. He moved to London, where he relinquished his commission on 23 November 1935, having attained the age limit, retaining the rank of major. During the Second World War he served as a civil servant in the Ministry of Food and after the war moved to Dorking in Surrey, where he died in 1967.
The award of the DSO was gazetted on 16 September 1918 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer organised and led a counter-attack, and, although wounded by a rifle bullet in the thigh, he continued to carry on, holding the enemy up for some hours. Until the success of the attack was assessed and the line re-established, he refused to leave his battalion. While in command of the battalion his example to the men had a great effect”.
Civil Parish: Stockton on Tees
Birth date: 9-Nov-1885
Death date: 15-Oct-1967
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 6 Cranbourne Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees (1891 census)
Hartburn House, East Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees (1911 census)
68 Northway, Finchley, London (London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965)
Moorfield Cottage, Mill Road, Holmwood, Dorking , Surrey (British Phone Book 1955 & Surrey, England, Electoral Registers 1832-1962)
Education: The Leys School, Cambridge
King’s College, Cambridge (B.A.Cantab)
Employment: Director, Raimes & Co. Ltd.
Family: Father: Frederick Raimes
Mother: Maria Raimes (nee Dresser)
Siblings: Elsie Marion, Launcelot (Captain in DLI. Killed in action 1 Jun 1916) & Marjorie Raimes
Wife: Hannah Exley May Samuel (Daughter of Jonathan Samuel MP)
Military service:
5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Major
Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Dispatches (2)
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
