Geoffrey Raikes

Major-General Sir Geoffrey Taunton Raikes CB DSO (7 April 1884 – 27 March 1975) was a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1930s.

Sir Geoffrey Raikes
Born	7 April 1884
Died	27 March 1975 (aged 90)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1903−1938 1938−1941
Rank	Major-General
Unit	South Wales Borderers
Commands held	2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers 9th Infantry Brigade 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Knight Bachelor Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Military career

Educated at Radley College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,[1] Raikes was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers in 1903.[2] He was seconded to the Egyptian Army from 1913 to 1915.[2][1] He served in the First World War and in April 1918 found himself as Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers at Armentières where the battalion suffered heavy losses.[3]

After the War he became an Instructor at the Senior Officers School in 1922 before attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1924 to 1925 and moving on to be Chief Instructor to the Royal Marine Artillery in 1928.[2] He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers in 1931 and then reverted to being an Instructor at the Senior Officers School.[2] He was made Commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade in 1935 and then retired in 1938.[2]

During the Second World War he was recalled to be General Officer Commanding 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division of the Territorial Army (TA).[2]

He was very keen on scouting.[4]

He was also Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire from 1948 to 1959.

References

1. Smart, p. 260
2. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
3. South Wales Borderers
4. "Scout Wales" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2009-12-01.

Bibliography

• Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.