Percy Rayner

With grateful thanks to Herts at War for the genealogical information appearing in this article.

Percy Rayner was born on 4^th May 1891 at Camden Town, London. His parents were Henry Stoten, a strawtier, and Eliza Rayner. In the 1911 census he is recorded as living at Hay Green, Therfield, with his mother and step-father, William Stoten.

At the time of Percy’s enlistment on 9^th February 1916 at Hitchin he was working as a strawbinder for Mr John Inns. He married Priscilla Dorothy Collins in the early summer of 1916.

Percy enlisted into the 4^th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as a Private with the service number 26027. He disembarked in France on 24^th July 1916. After the Division’s fighting at Beaucourt he was diagnosed with trench fever, but recovered in time for the action north of the Ancre.

Percy was killed in action on 11^th February 1917. With no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Corporal Kirby wrote to Percy’s 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. As 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.

Pvt. Percy Rayner 26027, Bedford Fusiliers

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