THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO REAR ADMIRAL HENRY RABY, ROYAL NAVY, HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION. |
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12 March 2012 |
The Victoria Cross, Orders, decorations and campaign medals awarded to Rear Admiral Henry Raby, Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade ), have been acquired by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The Henry Raby VC group had been on a long loan to the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth and will now go on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London. |
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 24 February 1857 ], Sebastopol, Crimea, 18 June 1855, Lieutenant Henry James Raby, Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade ).
On the 18th June 1855, immediately after the assault on Sebastopol, a soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been shot through both legs, was observed sitting up, and calling for assistance. Climbing over the breastwork of the advanced sap, Commander Raby and two seamen proceeded upwards of seventy yards across the open space towards the salient angle of the Redan, and in spite of the heavy fire which was still continuing, succeeded in carrying the wounded soldier to a place of safety, at the imminent risk of their own lives.( Letter from Sir S Lushington, 7th June 1856 ). Henry Raby was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park on the 24th February 1857. ( Raby was the first recipient to be invested with the Victoria Cross ). Henry Raby died at his home in Southsea on the 13th February 1907 and was buried in the Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth The two seaman who assisted Lieutenant Raby in rescuing the wounded soldier were Captain of the Forecastle John Taylor and Boatwain's Mate Henry Curtis, both of whom were awarded the Victoria Cross. |
Iain Stewart, 12 March 2012