• Operation Frankton

Date of birth:

January 21st, 1912 (London, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

May 24th, 2005 (Semley/Wiltshire, United Kingdom)

Nationality:

British

William Raikes was born in London, the son of Major Lawrence Taunton Raikes. Raised in Wales until his parents returned from India, he came from a family with a distinguished military history.

He entered Dartmouth Naval College at 13, earning the King's Dirk. As a midshipman on HMS Warspite, he served in Malta and later trained as a submariner, rising to lieutenant commander by 1943. He commanded HMS Seawolf, spotting the battleship Tirpitz and enabling an attack by Victorious’s aircraft. He was awarded a DSO for daring submarine operations.

In 1942, he took command of HMS Tuna and played a key role in Operation Frankton, launching Royal Marines to attack German ships. His post-mission report praised their bravery.

During Operation Deadlight, Raikes oversaw surrendered German U-boats before being discharged in 1946 due to medical reasons. He worked at Marconi until 1972 and later lived in Somerset. Married in 1938 to Joan Margaret Edgington, he had three daughters, with some family settling in Canada and the U.S.

Promotions:
1 May 1929: Cadet
1 Jan 1930: Mid.
1 May 1932: A/S.Lt.
16 Jan 1933: S.Lt.
16 Mar 1935: Lt.
16 Mar 1943: Lt.Cdr.
Retired: 1946

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• Photo 1: IWM A14400 (CC Attribution 4.0)
• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35596/supplement/2646

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