The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W T Rayner

Private William Thomas RAYNER, G/10142, 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 1st July 1918, age 19.

5th September 1891, St Nicholas, Great Wakering, Essex, Thomas Henry Rayner, married Elizabeth Harriet Sibley.

Born Woolwich, SE, son of Thomas Henry Rayner & Mrs. Elizabeth Harriett Cliff, of 23, Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent.

1911 Census - 9 Star Hill, Crayford, Kent - Elizabeth Cliff, head, age 41, married under 1 year, no children, at home, born Great Wakering, Essex; Susan Elizabeth Rayner, daughter, age 20, single, mineral water works, mineral water, worker, born Great Wakering, Essex; Florence Rayner, daughter, age 17, single, field hand on farm, farmer, worker, born North Woolwich, Essex; James Henry Rayner, son, age 14, school part time caddy, born North Woolwich, Essex; William Rayner, son, age 12, school, born North Woolwich, Essex; Albert John Rayner, son, age 6, school, born North Woolwich, Essex; Arthur Reginald Rayner, age 3, born North Woolwich, Essex; Ellen Cliff, stepdaughter, age 13, school, born Bermondsey, London.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 19, height 5ft 2 inches, weight 119lbs. Resided 23, Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent. Formerly Warehouseman, worked in lumber mill.

Home 6th October 1915 to 2nd May 1916; BEF, 3rd May 1916 to 18th September 1916; Home, 19th September 1916 to 10th February 1917; BEF, 11th February 1917 to 4th August 1917; Home 5th August 1917 to 25th September 1917; BEF, 26th September 1917 to 1st July 1918.

6th October 1915, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd May 1916, posted BEF; 15th September 1916, wounded in action; 18th September 1916, gun shot wound forearm left, to England Hospital Ship, "Asturias", ex 3rd Stationary Hospital, Rouen; 19th September 1916 to 28th October 1916, Hospital, abrasion of forearm; 10th November 1916, Rochester, when on active service being absent from fatigue duty, 3 days confined to Barracks; 27th December 1916, Fort Horsted, overstaying his pass from Tattoo until 11.30pm on 28th, derived 2 days pay, forfeits 2 days pay; 29th December 1916, when on active service absent from Tattoo until apprehended by Civil Police at London January 2nd, 10 days Field Punishment No.2., forfeits 5 days pay; 11th February 1917, posted BEF; 11th February 1917, embarked / disembarked; 26th July 1917, wounded; 26th July 1917, gun shot wound, head, neck, arm right, severe, to England Hospital Ship "Grantully Castle", ex 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen; 5th August 1917 to 16th August 1917, Fulham Military Hospital, St Dunstans Road, Hammersmith, gun shot wound, head, neck, arm right; 16th August to 26th August 1917, Fulham Military Hospital, St Dunstans Road, Hammersmith, furlough granted; 26th August 1917, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 25th September 1917, posted 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th September 1917, Folkestone, embarked; 26th September 1917, Boulogne, disembarked; 30th September 1917, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot, posted 3/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st October 1917, joined Battalion, In the Field; 6th February 1918, posted 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment & joined Battalion, In the Field.

11th August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, deceased; Mother, Elizabeth Harriett Cliff, 23, Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent; Brothers - James Henry Rayner, age 22, on Military Service; Albert John Rayner, age 13, 23, Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent; Sisters (full blood) - Susan Elizabeth Dancer, age 27, No.1. Beech Walk, Crayford, Kent; Florence May Barnes, age 24, No.2. Bruggs Cott, Bexley ????; Sisters (half blood) - Rosina Agnes Cliff, age 8, 23, Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent.

Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, Panel 58 and 59, France.

This page was last updated on 08-Aug-2021.