Private Walter Raynor
G/P42873 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
51595 3rd A.M., Royal Flying Corps & Royal Air Force
Walter was born in 1883 at Pye Bridge, Derbyshire son of Walter Raynor a coal miner from Pinxton and his second wife Kerenhappuck Toesland, born at Grafton Underwood, Northants. In 1901 the family was living at Pye Bridge and Walter, then aged 17, and his two brothers Thomas and James were employed as coal miners. Walter had siblings Mary, Thomas and James. He also had elder half-siblings from his father’s first marriage: John Thomas Toesland, Joseph, Harriet and Sarah.
On 21st May 1904 Walter married Annie Radford at Riddings Church, Derbyshire. In 1905 son Thomas was born at Park Lane, Pinxton. By 1907 they had moved to Mount Pleasant, Riddings and in December of that year they had a daughter named Emily May who sadly only survived for a few weeks. In 1910 son Walter was born. In 1911 Walter and Annie were living at Bullock Lane, Riddings, Derbyshire and Walter was employed as a coal miner, stallman getter. The census notes they had had three children but one had not survived.
Walter joined the KOYLI’s on 11th December 1916 at the age of thirty three for the duration of the war. His civilian occupation was given as Prudential Assurance agent and his home address as York Avenue, Jacksdale, Notts. On 11th January 1917 Walter was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps the air arm of the British Army during WW1 and embarked for France on 27th January 1917. In early 1918 he was admitted to St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples, Pas de Calais, France and transported to England aboard Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen being admitted to the Bethnal Green Hospital, London on 10th March 1918. The reason for his hospitalisation is not noted on his service record. On 1st April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service amalgamated to become the newly formed Royal Air Force and Walter was transferred to the RAF retaining the rank of Private.
On 5th May 1919 Walter was transferred to the RAF Reserve and deemed to be discharged on 30th April 1920. He was a recipient of the British War and Victory Medals.
Walter and Annie enjoyed nearly 60 years of happy marriage. Walter died in 1964 just one month before their 60th wedding anniversary, aged 80 years. Address at that time was 17, Main Road, Pye Bridge. His widow Annie outlived him for a further 11 years.
