Robert Raikes (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Robert Raikes
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|---|---|
| Born | 23 August 1885 |
| Died | 24 May 1953 (aged 67) London, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1900–1944 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | South Atlantic Station |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Distinguished Service Order |
Sir Robert Henry Taunton Raikes was a brave officer in the Royal Navy. He was born on August 23, 1885, and passed away on May 24, 1953. During his career, he rose to become an Admiral. He even served as the top commander of the South Atlantic Station, which was a very important job!
Early Life and School Days
Robert Raikes was born in a place called Chislehurst, in Kent, England. He was the fifth son in his family. He went to a school called Radley College. After that, he joined the navy's training ship, HMS Britannia, in September 1900. This was the start of his exciting journey in the navy.
Robert Raikes officially joined the Royal Navy in 1900. He served his country during World War I, which was a huge global conflict. For his bravery and excellent service, he received the DSO award in 1916.
Later, he became the Chief of Staff for the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. This meant he was a main helper to the top commander in Portsmouth. In 1932, he started teaching at the Royal Navy Staff College in Greenwich.
In 1934, he became the Chief of Staff for the Mediterranean Fleet. This fleet operated in the Mediterranean Sea. He even took temporary command in Alexandria, Egypt, during a conflict called the Abyssinian War in 1936.
After that, he became the Rear Admiral Submarines in 1936. This role put him in charge of all the submarines!
When World War II began, Admiral Raikes continued to serve. He first commanded the Reserve Fleet's destroyer ships on the Northern Patrol. Then, in 1940, he became the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station. This was a very high position, making him the main naval commander in the South Atlantic Ocean.
From 1942 to 1944, he served as the Flag Officer in Aberdeen. He lived in a place called Mantyley Chase in Newent, Gloucestershire.
His Family and Legacy
Admiral Raikes married a woman named Ida Guinevere Evans. His son, Iwan Raikes, also followed in his footsteps and joined the Royal Navy. Iwan later became the Flag Officer for Submarines, just like his father had been.
His nephew, Lieutenant-Commander Dick Raikes, was also a brave naval officer. He received the DSO too. Dick Raikes led a very famous mission called Operation Frankton. This mission involved members of the SBS (a special forces unit) using small klepper canoes to attack German ships. This daring raid happened in the Gironde estuary in 1942. The exciting story of this mission was even made into a classic movie in 1955 called The Cockleshell Heroes.
