The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private O R Rayner

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FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS

KEEPING

LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE

SLEEPING

Photograph by "International Wargraves Photography Project"

Private Owen Rupert RAYNER, G/15152, 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Arras, Flanders France, 4th May 1917, age 19.

1st September 1897, born Great Cornard, Suffolk, son of William Rayner and Eliza, (daughter of David Gilbert), of 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk / 25, Waldingfield Road., Sudbury, Suffolk.

Educated S.S Gregory & St Peters School, Sudbury, Suffolk & West Suffolk County School, Bury St Edmunds, having successfully passed his examinations, he became a Student Teacher at his old school at Sudbury.

1911 Census - 42 East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk - William Rayner, head, age 50, married, Postman, born Little Cornard, Suffolk; Eliza Rayner, wife, age 50, married 24 years, 6 children, 3 still alive, born Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex; Edith Harriet Rayner, daughter, age 19, single, School Teacher, County Council, born Great Cornard, Suffolk; Percy Walter Rayner, son, age 17, single, Pupil Teacher, County Council, born Great Cornard, Suffolk; Owen Rupert Rayner, son, age 13, school, born Great Cornard, Suffolk.

Enlisted Sudbury, Suffolk, age 18 years & 6 months, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 120lbs, slight flat foot, but quite supple, can hop, hammer toes both feet. Resided 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly student teacher.

Home 1st March 1916 to 11th January 1917; BEF 12th January 1917 to 4th May 1917.

1st March 1916, enlisted; 2nd March 1916, to Army Reserve; 11th May 1916, mobilized & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th May 1916, posted 9th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st September 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th January 1917, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 13th January 1917, embarked / disembarked; 15th January 1917, joined Battalion, "D" Company.

8th September 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, William Rayner, 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk; Mother, Eliza Rayner, 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk; Brothers - Percy Walter Rayner, age 25, 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk; Sisters - Edith Harriett Rayner, age 28, 42, Waldingfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk.

Buried at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, V. D. 7., Arras, France. Commemorated Sudbury Suffolk War Memorial.

This page was last updated on 04-May-2026.