Name
Frank Rayner
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/10/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/7726
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
VII. A. 39.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, Not on the St Albans memorials, Not on the Tewin memorials
Pre War
Frank Rayner was born in 1879 in Tewin, Herts, the son of Henry and Penelope (Ellen) Rayner and was baptised there on 9 Mary 1879. He was one of 13 children, although two had died by 1911.
The family were living at Black Fan, Tewin in 1881 with his father working as a Shepherd. They remained at Black Fan in 1891 but although only 12, Frank is listed as a farm labourer.
When he was 18 he enlisted in London in 1897 and joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers under Reg. No. SF/5494 serving 8 years, and transferring to the army reserve on 4 February 1905. He was eventually discharged on 26 July 1909, having served 12 years.
In the Kelly’s Directory of 1908, he is listed as a beer retailer, one of seven in the Colney Heath Parish and on the 1911 Census he is listed as the head of the household, living at The Gardeners Arms Inn, Colney Heath, St Albans with his mother, Penelope, and father Henry and working as house painter.
He was living in Bowmans Green Cottages, Smallford, Hertfordshire when he married Ann Potter on 2 August 1913. They had a daughter Elizabeth Nancy who was born on 16 October 1914. They later lived at Colney Heath, Herts.
Wartime Service
Frank re-enlisted when war broke out and joined the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in France from 26 July 1915.
He served in several sectors of France and Flanders and took part in many principal battles. He was badly caught in a gas attack in Flanders on 23 October 1917 and died on 25 October 1917.
He is buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £18 6s 10d. She also received a pension of 18s 9d a week for herself and her daughter.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Gareth Hughes
