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The following obituary for Henry James Raby appeared in the Times newspaper.
| Obituary in the Times newspaper | |
| Date | Obituary |
| 14 February 1907 | Rear-Admiral Henry James Raby, V.C., C.B. (retired), died yesterday morning at his residence, 8, Clarence-parade, Southsea. Admiral Raby had resided in Southsea since his retirement from the Navy. He took a great interest in the Royal Seamen and Marines' Orphanage, the Royal Sailors' Home, and in various other philanthropic institutions in the town. Rear-Admiral Raby was a son of Mr. Arthur Tumour Raby, of Llanelly, Carmarthen, and was educated at Sherborne. He was born in September, 1827, and entered the Navy as a first-class Volunteer on board the Monarch in 1842. In 1848 he was rated mate, and two years later received his commission as lieutenant; in this grade he served for some time in the Wasp on the West Coast of Africa, and on the outbreak of war with Russia in 1854 was sent to the Black Sea. There he was landed with the Naval Brigade, and served in the trenches from October 23, 1854, until September 16, 1855. As second in command of a ladder party at the attack on the Redan he performed the act of gallantry for which he received the Victoria Cross, and which was thus described in the Gazette:— "On June 18, 1855, immediately after the assault on Sevastopol, 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, Lieutenant Raby and two seamen proceeded upwards of 70 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. Lieutenant Raby was the sole survivor to reap the reward, and wear the Cross." For his services in thé trenches he was, in September, 1855, promoted to commander and received the Crimean, Sardinian, and Turkish medals with clasps for Sevastopol and Inkerman, the 5th class of the Medjidie, and the ribbon of the Legion of Honour. His next appointment was to the command of the Alecto on the West Coast of Africa from 1859 to 1862, during which period he commanded the boats of the squadron at the capture of Porto Novo in April, 1861, when he was wounded, and for this and other services in the suppression of the slave trade was repeatedly mentioned in despatches. He received his promotion to the rank of captain in November, 1862, for his services. on the West Coast, and subsequently commanded the Adventure in China from 1868 to 1871. In 1877 he retired from the active list, and his subsequent step was gained in retirement. He had in 1875 been made a Companion of the Bath, and in 1895 was granted a good service pension, which is by the Admiral's death placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. Admiral Raby married, in 1863, Judith, daughter of the late Colonel Watkin Forster, of Holt Manor, Trowbridge. |
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