William Harold Raynor
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 17 Nov 1916 p.23 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c June 1891 |
| Place of Birth | Carlton, Victoria |
| Death | 12 Nov 1961 |
| Place of Death | Victoria |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 2 months |
| Description |
5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 156 lbs 70.76 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Charlesville', Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Harold George Raynor |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 6623 |
| Date of Enlistment | 6 Sep 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade transferred to 10th Battery / 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Nov 1915 ‒ 15 Dec 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A18 Wiltshire |
| Date of Return | 27 Apr 1919 ‒ 10 Jun 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A54 Runic |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none currently |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1913 Farmer at Dumbleyung. 1914 labour at The Grange, Tatyoon, Victoria.
War Service
Enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria, and trained at the Broadmeadows camp for two months before proceeding to Suez in Egypt.
On arrival in Egypt Bill was placed in the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir from 6 - 10 Feb 1916 having been in contact with diphtheria. He travelled with 11th Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade from Alexandria to Marseilles 14 - 19 Mar 1916.
On 3 Dec 1916 Bill was hospitalised with influenza, initially with the 8th Field Ambulance until 16 Dec 1916 when he was admitted to the 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Amiens. On 28 Dec 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Canadian General Hospital before being evacuated to England on HMHS Dunluce Castle from Le Havre on New Year's Day.
Admitted to the 1st London General Hospital on 2 Jan 1917 with bronchitis, it was 27 Feb 1917 before he was well enough to leave medical care and to take leave before returning to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs. Returning from leave a day late cost him 2 days pay and 3 days confined to barracks.
On 12 Apr 1917 he returned to France, where on 21 May 1917 he finally reached his unit at Steenvoorde. On 19 Jul 1917 he was transferred to the 10th Battery, ex 11th Battery. In Jul 1917 he failed to attend an ordered parade and was awarded 10 days field punishment and forfeited 10 days pay.
Bill remained with the 10th Battery, and was given another fortnight's leave in England during Feb/Mar 1918, before returning to his unit until 26 Feb 1919 when he left for England, and two months later, Australia where he was discharged by the 3rd Military District in Victoria.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1919 - 1924 farm labourer at Toolamba; 1925 carpenter at 3 The Terrace, Malvern; 1926 - 1954 machinist at Curraweena road, Caulfield East.
No wife listed in electoral records.
Notes