Cyril Raikes

Cyril Probyn Napier Raikes (1875–1963) was a British Army officer who was awarded the Military Cross in the World War I Mesopotamian campaign flying in the British army's Royal Engineers monitoring the oil pipelines there.

He was a Lieutenant in the Boer War, South Africa 1900-1902, gaining a medal and four bars.

[citation needed] Before World War I, he developed water services in Egypt.

During the 2nd World War while still working for the British Oxygen Company and staying at the Thatched House Club, St James's, he served as a fire watcher in London, for instance on the top of St Paul's Cathedral.

[citation needed] He then lived in Rolle Cottage, Sidbury and finally Sidmouth, both in Devon, until his death on 16 January 1963.