Robert Maximilian Rainey-Robinson was born in April 1861 at Secunderabad, India, the second son of Major-General Arthur Jacob Macan Rainey (Madras SC) and Caroline Susannah Rainey (nee Robinson) eldest daughter of the Rev. William Robinson, Rector of Bovagh, County Londonderry.

Educated at Charterhouse and Cheltenham, entered Sandhurst in September 1880. He was commissioned in to the Indian Army under the surname Rainey and later in 1897 assumed the name Rainey-Robinson. First as Second Lieutenant in the 24th Foot (South Wales Borderers) 1881, as Lieutenant in the 1st Madras Pioneers 1882, 72nd Punjabis 1890 and 62nd Punjabis 1902-1909.

He served with the Zhob Valley Expedition in 1884. Served with the Burmese Expedition in 1885-89 (mentioned in despatches, Medal with two Clasps). Conducted the Chin Bok operations in 1889-90 as Commandant of the Chin Levy Military Police (mentioned in despatches, Clasp). Served with the Manipore Expedition in 1891 (Clasp); and in the operations in Burmah in 1891-92 as Staff Officer to the Baungsh Column.

On the 22nd January 1901 he was promoted to rank of Major whilst serving with 62nd Punjabis.

On the 1st June 1902 he was granted temporary rank of Lieut.-Colonel whilst serving as Commandant in the Indian Army, Commading the 62nd Punjabis.

He married Alice Frances Hildebrand,eldest daughter of Arthur Hedding Hildebrand CIE, in 1903 in Wiltshire. They later had 6 children; Margaret (Peggy), Elizabeth (Betty), Alice Helen, Monica Anne, Catherine and Frances Mary Rainey-Robinson.

On the 11th June 1907 he was granted the rank of Brevet Colonel.

He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath C.B. in 1912 (London Gazette 14th June 1912).

On the 14th February 1913 he retired, on half-pay, from the Indian Army.

Colonel R. M. Rainey-Robinson (1914)

Second Lieutenant Robert Maximilian Rainey-Robinson (1881)
(As a young officer with the 24th Foot [South Wales Borderers])

At the start of the First World War he was recalled for service with the rank of Colonel on the 17th September 1914. He became the first commanding officer of the 11th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

The 11th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, with the other Battalions of the 78th Brigade, left its Wiltshire training ground on the 21st September 1915 and entrained at Warminster for Southampton, and thence crossed to Boulogne. After many stops the 11th Battalion arrived at Marseilles where on the 11th November 1915 two battleships were waiting to receive them. The right-half Battalion, under Colonel Rainey-Robinson, embarked on H.M.S. "Mars" and the left-half Battalion, under Lieut.-Col. Barker, on H.M.S. "Magnificent". Next morning, the two battleships put out to sea and steamed south-eastward across the Mediterranean. After a stop-over at Alexandria they sailed for Salonika, arriving on the 24th and 25th November 1915.

On August 17th 1916 Colonel Rainey-Robinson was sent into hospital for treatment and Lieut.-Col. W. F. Barker took over temporary command.

On the 2nd Febrary 1917, Colonel Rainey-Robinson finally handed over command of the 11th Battalion to Lieut.-Col. W. F. Barker.

For his service with the 11th battalion in Macedonia he was invested as a Companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) London Gazette 1st January 1917.

He finally, fully retired from the Indian Army 5th March 1919 and settled down to home life at Upwey, Weymouth, Dorset.

Colonel Robert Maximilian Rainey-Robinson, C.B., C.M.G. died at Moffat House Nursing Home, Weymouth, Dorsetshire on the 20th February 1932, age 70.

Colonel Robert Maximilian Rainey-Robinson

Lieutenant Robert Maximilian Rainey-Robinson (c. 1888)

Seen here as a Lieutenant in the 1st Madras Pioneers wearing his medal for service in the Zhob Valley 1884 and Burmese Expedition in 1885-89 (medal and two clasps).