Sergeant 4277 Arthur William Henry RAYNOR, D.C.M. ‘C’ Company
Captured: 24 August 1914 Repatriated: 22 January 1919
Personal: Arthur was born in Fermoy, Ireland, on 19th December 1879. He was the son of Arthur (Coachman) and Mary Emma (née Luckey) Raynor (later of 18 Loxley Terrace, Owlerton, Sheffield).
N.B. for some reason some of her later children show a maiden name of ‘Williamson’ on their Birth Certificates.
Arthur had 8 younger siblings, Caroline Elizabeth Dorothea [known as ‘Lily’] (b. 1881), Mary Maudeline Margaret (b. 1885), Rowland Edwin John (b. 1887), James Albert (b. 1888 – baptised 14 May at St Thomas’ Church, Featerstone, Yorkshire) [see Footnotes below]. Robert Henry was born in 1891, but died after a few months, then Emily Hilda (b. 1893, but also died after four months) and Frances Bellwood [known as ‘Rita’] (b. 1895). Another daughter, Doris Irene, was born on 4 April 1901, but lived only 9 days.
In 1891 (Census RG 12/3760) the family was living at Purston Lodge, Featherstone, Yorkshire. (Next to Purston Hall, the home of the Hall family.)
At the time of his enlistment, aged 14, Arthur stood 4 ft. 6½ ins. [1.38 m.] tall, weighed 4 st. 13 lbs. [31.3 kgs.], had a ‘fresh’ complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. [Whilst stationed at Aldershot in June 1896 he received a “Facial wound“, after being hit by a cricket ball!]
In August 1915 whilst Arthur was a p-o-w, Lucy and the children were living at 6 Stockwell Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. After his repatriation, Arthur and Lucy had two more sons, Edward William (born 6 March 1924 at Birkenhead, Cheshire) and Gerald Francis (b. 31 August 1929, also in Birkenhead).
The 1921 Census shows the family living at 72 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire, and Arthur, though officially discharged, was working for “H.M. Govt.” as an “Army Recruiter“.
The 1939 Register shows Arthur and Lucy living at 41 Grange Road, Birkenhead. Arthur was employed as a “Recruiting Sergeant Major”, at the age of 6o still working for the Cheshire Regiment.
His cause of death was liver and pancreatic cancers. Arthur’s committal service was held at Landican (probably on Saturday, 18th November) prior to his cremation.
In the March quarter 1964 Lucy re-married William R. Cliffe. She died in 1971.
Military Service: Arthur enlisted at Sheffield on 12 July 1893, for 12 years active service. He stated his age as 14 years 0 months and posted to the 2nd Battalion. After 3 years’ service as a Private he received his 1st Good Conduct badge – a second followed on 12 July 1898.
On 11th June 1904 Arthur extended his period of service to 21 years and was again promoted to Lance Corporal on 1st July 1904. On the 12th of that month he received his 3rd Good Conduct Badge.
On 3rd August 1908 Arthur was promoted to Corporal and on 27th October 1910 was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was promoted to Lance Sergeant on 9th March 1911 and to Sergeant on 18th November 1911.
On 27th October 1902 he returned home before being posted to India on 29th September 1904. After just over 6 years he again returned home and after his transfer to the 1st Battalion was posted to Ireland until joining the B.E.F. in France in August 1914.
Arthur was due to be discharged after 21 years’ service on 11th July 1914, but was again allowed to extend his service beyond 21 years on 2nd March 1914, under Section 85 of the Army Act.
On the morning of 24th August 1914 the order came to send the 1st Battalion into action to hold up the enemy advance whilst the remainder of 5th Division withdrew.
About 5.00 p.m. the order came to retire. They left the road and moved along the railway line in the direction of the Bois d’Audregnies. To get to the railway they had to negotiate several hundred yards of rising under heavy-machine gun fire.
Only about half-a-dozen men made it. Sergeant 4277 A. Raynor (9th Platoon, ‘C’ Company) fixed his bayonet and took upon himself the duty of scout.
They passed a small group of trees, then along a track in a field, into a hedge-bordered lane, then to pasture-land south-west of Wiheries.
Crookenden described what happened next: “‘Here they ran into the Magdeburg Regiment which was going into bivouac. Of those who remained Capt. Jones and Pte. E. Hogan were killed. Cpl. Crookes, who had previously been wounded, collapsed and Pte. F. Garrad was mortally wounded.
Raynor and Blake were soon rounded up by the enemy after a gallant resistance. Sgt. Raynor, who had shown great courage and initiative, and who had fought on to the last, was later awarded the DCM.
His true character is best shown by his own words when Cpl. Crookes saw him later in the grip of 3 Germans; “If I had known you were living I – well wouldn’t have given in“. The door to safety was barred, but a gallant fragment of the 1st Battalion still fought on.”
Arthur was captured at Audregnies on 24th August 1914, unofficially reported a prisoner of war (W.O. Communique 1185) and officially when interred in Holland on 29th December 1917.
The photograph – right – shows Arthur whilst a prisoner-of-war at Soltau.
However, on 31st October 1917 he was still a p-o-w at Hameln (Hamlin). On 29th December 1917 Arthur arrived in Holland for internment.
He was finally repatriated via Hull on board SS Stockport, on 22nd January 1919 and was discharged from the Army on 29 June 1920. He and his family moved to live at 72 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire. With effect from the next day, 9th June, Arthur was awarded a ‘Pension for Life‘ at a daily rate of “48½d” [4s 0½d or 20.05p. equivalent to about £11.50 per day (c. £4200 per year) today – 2023]
In total Arthur served 26 years 355 days with the Colours, 4 years 159 days in France and Germany, all but 8 days of which was as a prisoner-of-war. His Military Conduct stated just one word – “Exemplary“. Arthur returned to duty at the start of World War 2 as a “Recruiting Sergeant Major“.
In the December quarter 1936 Rowland had married Dorothy Evelyn Newland and in 1939 they were living at 61 Inverness Road, Greenwich, London. They had two children, Dorothy, born 12th September 1938, and Joan, born July 1941. (Photo – right – Dorothy and baby Dorothy)
In the September quarter 1939 Walter married Connie Hawkins in Colchester, Essex. Their daughter, Rosemary, was born in the March quarter 1941. In the September quarter 1946 Connie re-married, Sidney Bland.
Edward married Beatrice Ann Roberts on 28 March 1945 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, and they had a daughter and two sons. He died in January 2005 at Birkenhead.
The 1911 Census shows he was already serving and was posted to France on 20 August 1914. Rowland died in service on 1 April 1915 in the District Hospital, Newbury, of Tuberculosis and Abdominal Haemorrhage, aged 28. He was buried in Newbury (Newtown Road) Cemetery, with full military honours on Easter Monday (5th April 1915). His ‘home’ address was recorded as 5 Thursa Street, Sheffield.
On the outbreak of War James sailed to join the B.E.F. in France, arriving on 23 August 1914. He was posted to the 4th Divisional Train on 29th November. In June 1918 he received a “Gun Shot Wound – Buttock” and returned to England for convalescence. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 6 December 1918.
On 27 April 1909 James had married Amy Mayle at the Register Office, Devonport. They had three children, William Arthur (born 13 September 1909 – died June 1988), Doris Irene (b. 21 March 1911 – died January 1935) and James Albert (b. 16 January 1914 – died 23 May 1992).
Sources: I am grateful to Arthur’s descendent, Colin, for the photo at the top of this page, taken in 1922) and for providing information on the extended family.
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Arthur’s page has now been modified – hopefully to include all siblings etc. Sorry not to have got around to it earlier, but been ill!