Robert Lauden Rayner

Robert Lauden Rayner

photos courtesy of Greg Holland
Robert and Amelia
Personal Information
Date of Birth	21 Feb 1884
Place of Birth	Uxbridge, Tasmania
Death	14 Mar 1940, aged 56
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	31 years, 8 months
Description	5' 5" (1.65m) tall ; 136lbs 61.689 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Methodist
Address	Wuramny [Wuraming], Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Amelia Rayner
Military Information
Reg Number	4215
Date of Enlistment	28 Oct 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	1 Apr 1916 ‒ ? May 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses to Alexandria
Date of Embarkation	2 Jun 1916 ‒ 12 Jun 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMT Minnetonka to Plymouth
Date of Return	20 Dec 1917 ‒ 12 Feb 1918
Ship Returned On	HMAT A54 Runic
Fate	Wounded in Action 3/6 Nov 1916 at the Maze, Gueudecourt. Returned to Australia.
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

On 22 Jun 1913 29 year old Robert married 30 year old Amelia Brett in Perth. Electoral Rolls 1915 - 1916 Hotham Mills, Wuraming, labourer with Amelia. By 1917 Amelia had moved to Newbridge, Victoria for the duration of the war.

War Service

Originally earmarked for the 9th reinforcement draft, he was transferred to the 10th draft for the 28th Battalion after attending an NCO school in Western Australia. Initially shipped to Egypt, but arrived around the time that the troops were transferring to France, and thus was moved on to England to finalise his training there.

Proceeded to France from England on 25 Jul 1916, and he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 8 Aug 1916, just as it was retiring from the front line at Poziéres. Within a few weeks they were back in the front line north east of Poziéres, this time it was relatively peaceful, and they retired to Albert at the end of the month.

On 3 Nov 1916 they took over a section of the front line north east of Poziéres towards Gueudecourt from the 53rd Battalion. The trenches were filled with mud between 300mm and 1 metre in depth. On the next day (4 November) they attacked the German position opposite, but as a result of a poor bombardment which did not affect the Germans, they walked into intense rifle and machine gun fire. As a result they were unable to reach their objectives. Casualties in the battalion numbered 60 KIA, 172 WIA and 50 MIA. Those who survived were wet through and covered in mud.

Robert sustained a GSW to his left leg (tibia and fibula), but was not admitted to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station until 7 Nov 1916, so he may have been one of those initially listed as missing. Transferred next day to the 18th General Hospital in Camiers, France before being evacuated from Calais on HMHS Newhaven to Shorncliffe Military Hospital in England on 24 Nov 1916.

It was almost a year before he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford (16 Oct 1917), where he was given leave (22 Oct - 3 Nov 1917) prior to his return to Australia. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 2 Aug 1918.

"Robert Louden [Lauden] Rayner enlisted in December, 1915; sailed with the 28th Battalion to France. In November 1916, word was received that he had been wounded."

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1937 No 1 State Mill, Manjimup with Amelia. In 1949 Amelia was at 48 Beatty avenue, Victoria Park; No death for her registered in WA prior to 1972, and no burial record in metro area. Their son, Allan (Allen) died in May 1931 aged 17 and was buried in Manjimup Cemetery.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial