Pte
Herbert Arthur Raincock
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 27/12/1892 |
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Place of birth: Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada |
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Profession: Plate fitter |
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Religion: Not stated |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 430164 |
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Enlistment date: 03/03/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 29th Bn. (Vancouver) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/06/1916 |
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Place of death: The Culvert, Hooge, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 28 O |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Herbert Arthur Raincock was born in Gladstone, Manitoba. His father George R. Raincock, an English immigrant, gave up his job at the London Stock Exchange at the age of 21 to go farming near Gladstone, Manitoba. Soon he quit farming to take over a shop in town. During this period, George became a close acquaintance of Louis Riel, one of the founders of the province of Manitoba and a leader of the Métis people, who led two uprisings in which he stood up for the rights and culture of the Métis. In December 1892, Herbert was born in Gladstone. In 1905, the family moved to Penticton, British Columbia. At the age of 22, Herbert, then working as a plate mechanic, enlisted in Victoria. In July 1915, he left for England, where he was assigned to the 29th Battalion (Vancouver), part of the 6th Brigade of the newly formed 2nd Canadian Division.
In late May 1916, the Canadian army occupied the heights east of Zillebeke. Their front line ran from the hamlet of Hooge across Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) and Mount Sorrel to the foot of Hill 60. The positions between Mount Sorrel and Hill 62 were the only ones at Ypres where the Allies were higher than the Germans. It was precisely here that the latter planned a large-scale attack. The German attack on the morning of 2 June 1916 marked the beginning of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans sprung four mines beneath Mount Sorrel in the afternoon. This was the signal for the XIII. (Königlich Württembergisches) Armee-Korps. In four waves, they overran the lines from Mount Sorrel to over Tor Top. A hastily mounted counterattack failed to recapture the ridge. The Canadians regained a foothold on Observatory Ridge, a spur of the ridge, and positions on Hooge remained safeguarded.
By the afternoon of 6 June, all German guns seemed to concentrate on Hooge. After three hours of shelling, four mines went off under the positions along the Menin Road. The 28th Battalion (Northwest) in the first line at Hooge had no chance. Their positions were overrun. Half of the 28th Battalion was put out of action. The 29th Battalion was in reserve at Zillebeke and hardly realised what was happening at Hooge in front of them. Several platoons were sent forward to support the 28th Battalion despite heavy artillery fire. Finally the order came to relieve the battered 28th Battalion at the culvert on the Menin Road in front of Hooge. The positions there were under heavy artillery fire. During the shelling at Hooge on 6 June 1916, a high-speed shell penetrated Herbert's shelter and killed him instantly. His body was not recovered, and a small cross was erected where he died. To this day, he has no known grave and Herbert is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
After 6 June 1916, the odds turned. British commander-in-chief Douglas Haig released additional artillery to recapture the strategic heights. The arrival of the artillery turned the tables. Between 9 and 12 June, the Allies fired more than 75,000 shells at the Württembergers, who in turn suffered terrible losses. When the Canadians stormed the ridge on 13 June, the battered Würtembergers surrendered en masse. An hour after the attack began, the hills were back in Canadian possession. The situation thereafter remained more or less the same as before 2 June 1916, with the exception that more than 1,100 Canadians had been killed, 2,000 men went missing and thousands more were wounded or traumatised. On the Württemberg side, 1,300 men were killed, 3,982 wounded and 560 missing.
In late May 1916, the Canadian army occupied the heights east of Zillebeke. Their front line ran from the hamlet of Hooge across Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) and Mount Sorrel to the foot of Hill 60. The positions between Mount Sorrel and Hill 62 were the only ones at Ypres where the Allies were higher than the Germans. It was precisely here that the latter planned a large-scale attack. The German attack on the morning of 2 June 1916 marked the beginning of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans sprung four mines beneath Mount Sorrel in the afternoon. This was the signal for the XIII. (Königlich Württembergisches) Armee-Korps. In four waves, they overran the lines from Mount Sorrel to over Tor Top. A hastily mounted counterattack failed to recapture the ridge. The Canadians regained a foothold on Observatory Ridge, a spur of the ridge, and positions on Hooge remained safeguarded.
By the afternoon of 6 June, all German guns seemed to concentrate on Hooge. After three hours of shelling, four mines went off under the positions along the Menin Road. The 28th Battalion (Northwest) in the first line at Hooge had no chance. Their positions were overrun. Half of the 28th Battalion was put out of action. The 29th Battalion was in reserve at Zillebeke and hardly realised what was happening at Hooge in front of them. Several platoons were sent forward to support the 28th Battalion despite heavy artillery fire. Finally the order came to relieve the battered 28th Battalion at the culvert on the Menin Road in front of Hooge. The positions there were under heavy artillery fire. During the shelling at Hooge on 6 June 1916, a high-speed shell penetrated Herbert's shelter and killed him instantly. His body was not recovered, and a small cross was erected where he died. To this day, he has no known grave and Herbert is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
After 6 June 1916, the odds turned. British commander-in-chief Douglas Haig released additional artillery to recapture the strategic heights. The arrival of the artillery turned the tables. Between 9 and 12 June, the Allies fired more than 75,000 shells at the Württembergers, who in turn suffered terrible losses. When the Canadians stormed the ridge on 13 June, the battered Würtembergers surrendered en masse. An hour after the attack began, the hills were back in Canadian possession. The situation thereafter remained more or less the same as before 2 June 1916, with the exception that more than 1,100 Canadians had been killed, 2,000 men went missing and thousands more were wounded or traumatised. On the Württemberg side, 1,300 men were killed, 3,982 wounded and 560 missing.
Sources 5
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"G.R. Raincock, Valley Pioneer, Passes at 87" (Penticton Museum & Archives, 3 February 1949). Sources used |
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"Obituary Raincock, Margaretta Edith " (Penticton Museum & Archives, 1967). Sources used |
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Dennis Oomen, Museum Manager /Curator Penticton Museum & Archives, personal communication, 1 May 2023. Sources used |
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War diaries - 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4936, Microfilm reel number: T-10740--T-10741, File number: 427). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 113). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1595430 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b387dfd7-35cf-4832-9420-1ceb59f6a709 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6066149 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1595430 |