I chose a recipient of the Victoria Cross – Sergeant John Crawshaw Raynes of ‘A’ Battery Royal Field Artillery
I chose him because I think he is an excellent example of someone ‘good’ who goes on to join Freemasonry.
On
11th October 1915 at Fosse de Bethune, France, Raynes went to the
assistance of another Sergeant who was lying wounded. He bandaged the
wounded man and returned to his gun and when firing ceased he returned
to the wounded Sergeant and carried him to a dug-out. Gas shelling then
began and Raynes placed his own gas helmet on his wounded comrade. Badly
gassed, he, nevertheless returned to duty at his gun. The following day
he was buried alive, with others, under a house which had collapsed due
to enemy shelling. Immediately on being rescued he insisted on helping
to release the others. This task complete he allowed his wounds to be
dressed and returned to duty.
I think this citation of his noble
deeds gives a great insight into his character and his desire to extend
selfless charity and relief to his fellow man in the hour of his
affliction. He was subsequently initiated into St James's Operative Lodge
No 97 on 2nd November 1916 and died in Leeds in 1929.
While not
famous in the ordinary sense, I have always been of the view that
recipients of the highest award for Valour occupy a uniquely high place
in our esteem.
(Submission by David Cavaye)
