Trooper John Henry RAINE (1884-1916).

NZEF Service # 7/1276; Trooper, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 6th Reinforcements, NZEF.

Born 21 April 1884 - at Timaru, South Island, New Zealand.

John was the son of (the late) J. H. Raine - of Timaru.

Prior to enlistment for war service John Raine was employed as a Farmer - at 'Clondyke', Mayfield, Timaru.

John Raine enlisted for war service in early 1915.

At enlistment he was posted as a Trooper with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Brigade, 6th Reinforcements, NZEF.

On 14 August 1915 Trooper Raine left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the 6th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ transport ship T28 'Tofua'.

Trooper Raine served - with the ANZAC forces - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey - from 13 November 1915 to the evacuation of all ANZAC forces from Gallipoli Peninsula -  on 26 December 1915.

After service at Gallipoli Trooper John H. Raine served at Egypt & Palestine - with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles NZEF - until he was killed in action on 9 August 1916 at Bir-el-Aba - in the Suez Canal Region.

Initially Trooper John Raine was buried in the battle-field at Bir-el-Aba. He was later re-interred at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (Grave ref: A.87).

For Trooper John H. Raine's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com

For a photograph of the grave marker - of Trooper J.H. Raine - at Bir-el-Aba - refer to Nelson Provincial Museum Heritage Photograph Collection (Nelson, New Zealand) : Item search ref # 93762.

Photo Credit: Trooper John H. Raine (Auckland Weekly News : 14 September 1916) :  from the Auckland (New Zealand) Library Heritage Photograph Collection (AWNS : 1916-0914-40-7).

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett