Lancelot John Rayner

Lancelot Rayner (Service No 3877) was born in Helensburgh, N.S.W.

At enlistment he was single, 18 years old, worked as a telegraph messenger and lived at Kogarah in Sydney.  He had served 4 years with the Cadets.

Lancelot embarked from Sydney on HMAT A68 Anchises with 30th  Battalion, 9th Reinforcements on 24th August 1916.  The troops arrived in England on 11th October 1916 and Lancelot joined 30th Battalion in France on 23rd December 1916.

Lancelot saw service on the Western Front in some of the worst battles of the war. He has no entries on file for wounding which is surprising as he was a company runner.

On 16th October 1917 Lancelot was recommended for the Military Medal and this was subsequently awarded on 23rd May 1918.

The recommendation for his Military Medal reads: 'At BROODSEINDE RIDGE east of YPRES during the period 9th to 13th October 1917, No. 3877 Private Leslie John Raynor acted as Company runner and successfully maintained communication between Company Headquarters and the most advanced posts day and night. The position was an open one on the forward slope of a hill and although heavy hostile barrages were placed on our line at frequent intervals and the whole position was exposed to enemy snipers, who were very active, this man with utter contempt for danger and his own personal safety, carried out most difficult and important work over very bad country which called for the utmost personal exertion. The conspicuous courage and devotion to duty carried out during the most extreme weather conditions are in my opinion worthy of special recognition.' Commonwealth Gazette No76. Date: 23 May 1918.

Lancelot returned to Australia in June 1919 and was discharged on 20th September 1919.

In 1928 he married Gwendoline Armstrong.

He enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps on 14th May 1942 until 30th September 1945.

Lancelot died in Sutherland, N.S.W. in 1982.