Name
Percy Rayner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26027
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church, Therfield, Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield
Pre War
Born in Camden Town, London on 4 May 1891 son of Eliza Rayner and Henry Stoten.
1911 Census Details
Living with his mother and his step-father William Stoten in Hay Green, Therfield in 1911. Percy was recorded as ‘son’ of Henry Stoten (a straw tier) and Eliza. Young Percy, 20 was said to have been born in Camden Town, London. The couple had been married for 13 years.
Percy married Priscilla Dorothy. Before his enlistment he worked for Mr John Inns as a strawbinder and when he died his wife was working as a cook for Dr D C Windsor at the Rookery, Royston.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin on February 9th 1916 and according to his medal rolls card went into the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment with the number 26027.
The Royston Crow reported his death and the report provides additional information:
He went to France on 24th July 1916 - this meant shortened training and would have been because of the losses on the Somme. He took part in the November attack in November. Later he became ill with trench fever, was treated at the base hospital, recovering to returning to his regiment only to be killed about three weeks later.
His comrade, Corporal Kirby wrote to his widow "Your husband has paid the extreme price by giving his life for his King and Country. It will doubtless be some slight consolation to you to know that his death was absolutely instantaneous, and he knew not a second of suffering. A corporal in charge of his section, and the one who was speaking to him at the time of death, I should like to take this opportunity of testifying to his devotion to duty, his readiness to obey orders, and his cheerful disposition. In fact the Company's loss is second only to yours. His comrades join with me in sending you our deepest sympathy."
This extract from the war diaries tells where Percy was in the days leading up to his death on February 11th 1917; he was in the France , north of the River Ancre:
7 Feb 1917 6 p.m. 4th Bedf.R. take over left front Subsector and relieve NELSON Bn. R.N.D. Frontage R.1.a.7.3. to R.2.a.9.7. Bn. on our right 10 R.Dublin Fusrs. with 1st H.A.C. on extreme right. Bn. on our left 15 H.L.I. 7 Royal Fusiliers in Support.
11 Feb 1917 [Comment; Operations on the Ancre] 4 Bedf.R. ordered to push forward their line of posts on the E side of the PUISIEUX ROAD from a line R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.6.4. to an advanced position R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.7.9. Two companies to attack and lined up on tape running from R.2.a.5.3. - R.1.b.7.4. with 1 Company in Support holding trench R.2.c.3.9. - R.1.b.6.2. Company carrying party ready for consolidation. Zero hour 9 pm. Barrage on enemy front system of posts about R.1.b.5.7. - R.2.a.1.9. - R.1.a.4.8. for 5 min. lifting gradually until 9.30 p.m. 9.5 p.m. At 9.5 p.m. the line advanced. The left Company was temporally [sic] held up by enemy wire ad heavy M.G.fire about R.2.a.2.8. and the Company in Support was then pushed forward.
12 Feb 1917 3 a.m. Objective gained, line straightened out and posts consolidated.
15-16 Feb 1917 - Mackenzie Huts, Martinsart 188th Inf.Bde. relieved 190th Inf.Bde. on North bank of ANCRE. 1st R.M.L.I. relieved 4/Bedf.R. on left sub-sector (BEAUCOURT Sector). Frontage R.1.b.4.7. - R.2.a.9.6. The Bn. proceeded to MACKENZIE HUTS MARTINSART.
6-16 Feb 1917 [The action at Miraumont] Casualties Killed 68. Wounded 90. Missing 3. Missing believed Killed 45. Officers killed Lieut.L.T.Despicht, MC. [Leonard Terry DESPICHT, MC] Adjt., 2.Lieut.G.McKirdy [Gilles McKIRDY], 2.Lieut.V.B.Shott [Victor Blake SHOTT]. Officers wounded 2.Lieut.W.B.STIMSON [MC], 2.Lt.H. Smart [Harold SMART], 2.Lt.R.J.Thomas [Reginald James THOMAS], 2.Lt.A.W.Thomas [William Arthur THOMAS?], 2.Lt.D.H.Berry [Douglas H. BERRY].
It seems that although they were successful in reaching ‘their objective’ many lives were lost.
Percy’s body was not identified so his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, not far from where he was actually killed. His name is amongst the 74,000 others commemorated there.
Additional Information
In the Soldiers Effects record he left £3.2s.8d to his wife who also received £3.10s as a widow. His 2 medals and death plaque would have been sent to her too.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley
