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| Acting Sergeant Raynes putting his smoke helmet on Sergeant Ayres following the explosion of a gas shell.
On October 11th 1915, Acting Sergeant John Crawshaw Raynes, of A Battery, the 7th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, went out under an intense fire at Fosse 7 de Bethune to assist Sergeant Ayres, who had been wounded. Having bandaged him, Sergeant Raynes returned to his gun, but shortly afterwards Cease fire was ordered. He thereupon went out with two gunners and carried Sergeant Ayres into a dugout. A gas shell burst at the mouth of the dugout, and Sergeant Raynes ran across the open for his smoke helmet, put it on Sergeant Ayres, and then, though he badly gassed, staggered back to serve his gun. He was awarded the V.C. for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. |