Timothy Raper


Lieutenant-Colonel Raper took over command of the 19th Regiment while they were serving in the West Indies. The previous two commanding officers had died of fever there, Alexander Milne in 1828 and Henry Hardy in April 1835. 

Timothy Raper was born at Baldersby, Yorkshire on 21 Dec 1790. He served in the 4th North York Militia from 1808 and became an ensign in the 19th Regiment on 29 Nov 1810, promoted to lieutenant in 1811. The regiment were in Ceylon from 1796 to 1820 and Raper served there with distinction, commanding a company in 1817-18, and flying columns of light troops. He was promoted to major in 1826 and after having survived the tropical diseases of Ceylon, managed to escape the fatal diseases after 10 years in the West Indies. He retired in 1838 and lived at Hoe Court, Herefordshire. He died there on 22 July 1862.

The miniature portrait is by Heinrich Franz Schalk, painted c1829. The maritime background represents the far-flung stations in which Raper served.  He wears the dress uniform of a major in the 19th Regiment. The heavy gold epaulettes have a silver embroidered star which indicates the rank of major. Ranks below major had no rank badge, and lieutenant-colonels had a star and crown. The style of coat changed in 1829 so that the front was plainer. The green lapels were discontinued as were the gold laced button loops. The artist has put too many buttons on the ends of the lace; there should be only one on each doubled row. The gold waist-belt has a silver clasp with gilt wreath and crown over XIX. His dark blue trousers have two gold stripes down the side, one wide and one slim.


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by Stephen Luscombe