Name
Arthur Rayner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16507
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CITADEL NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, FRICOURT
V. A. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church, Therfield, Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield
Pre War
Born in 1878 in Therfield, Herts. son of William and Mary Ann (Wyman) Rayner, of Gilbey's Yard. He was single and was living there as a bricklayer’s labourer in 1911.
1881 census details
The family was living at Gilbey’s Yard. Father William, 40 was an agricultural labourer. His wife Mary A. (nee Hale) 39, had 6 children to care for, Emily 11, William 9, Freddy 7, Arthur 3, John 8 months and James Hale 16, recorded as ‘Wife’s son’.
1891 census details
The family was still at Gilbey’s yard with William, Fred, Arthur and John still at home and now Nellie 7 and Kate 5 had been born.
1901 census details
Apart from William the remaining children were still at home with Adelaide Ellen being recorded (Nellie?)
1911 census details
Arthur, ( a bricklayer’s labourer) , John and Ellen were still at home.
Prior to enlistment Arthur was employed by Messrs Gimson & Co in Royston.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Royston in September 1914 just after the outbreak of the war. He served in the 1st. Bedfordshire Regiment and went over to France in 1915.
The Bedfords were involved in:
In 1915 they were heavily engaged during the Battle of Ypres 1915 (also known as the Second Battle of Ypres) in April and May, where they fought at Hill 60 during the initial capture and subsequent defence that saw them lose so heavily that they were effectively rebuilt twice during the fighting.
In 1916 they were involved in several phases of the Battle of the Somme, namely the attacks on High Wood 20th to 25th July, at Longueval 27th to 30th July, the Battle of Guillemont (specifically the capture of Falfemont Farm 3rd to 6th September) and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (specifically the Battle of Morval on 25th September).
It was on September 27th that Arthur was killed aged 38. Lance Corporal McHugh, from Royston, wrote to the family "a friend to all the boys who will greatly miss him,"
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley
