TRAYNOR, WILLIAM BERNARD,
Sergeant, was born on 31 December 1870, at 29 Moxon Street, Hull, the son of
Francis Traynor, Flax Dresser, of County Monaghan, Ireland, and Rebecca
Traynor, formerly of Hull. He was educated at Pryme Street (Roman Catholic)
School, Hull, and entered the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment on 14
November 1888. He served for some years in India, and from 1899 to 1901 in
South Africa, where he won the Victoria Cross when serving under Lieutenant
G L Crossman, DSO, and Lieutenant Colonel W Fry, CB. Sergeant Traynor
took part in the following operations in South Africa: Willow Grange (23 and
23 November 1899); Colenso; Spion Kop; Vaal Krantz; operations in Natal from
14 to 27 February, ending at Pieter's Hill; Northern Natal and Orange River
Colony, including action at Laing's Nek, and East and West Transvaal;
severely wounded 6 February 1901; arrived at hospital 15 February. For
his services in this campaign Sergeant Traynor received also, besides the
Victoria Cross, the Queen's Medal and clasps for Tugela Heights, Relief of
Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Transvaal and Orange River Colony Clasp for 1901.
Owing to his state of health he was unable to travel to London to receive
his decoration from King Edward, therefore his Victoria Cross was presented
to him on 2 July 1902, at York, by Colonel Edward Stevenson Browne, VC, who
had won his own Victoria Cross in the Zulu War of 1879. Corporal Lintott,
who so splendidly answered his comrade's call for assistance, was awarded
the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and promoted Sergeant by Lord Kitchener.
Sergeant Traynor's VC was gazetted 17 September 1901: "William Bernard
Traynor, Sergeant, 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire
Regiment. During the night attack on Bothwell Camp, on the 6th
February, 1901, Sergeant Traynor jumped out of a trench and ran out under an
extremely heavy fire to the assistance of a wounded man. While running out
he was severely wounded, and being unable to carry the man by himself, he
called for assistance. Lance Corporal Lintott at once came to him, and
between them they carried the wounded soldier into shelter. After this,
although severely wounded, Sergeant Traynor remained in command of his
section, and was most cheerful in encouraging his men till the attack
failed". The following is an extract from Orders by Major-General Smith,
Dorrien: "The GOC compliments most highly the steadiness of all Infantry
Battalions in the outpost line during the heavy attack last night. The
conduct of the West Yorkshires, on whom the brunt of the battle fell, was
especially fine, and their heavy losses are to be deplored. The casualties
were very heavy, owing to the Boers getting through two picquets, having
followed up a mob of 200 stampeded cavalry horses. These two picquets
were practically wiped out". Sergeant Traynor's wound was so serious
that he had to be invalided home in 1901, and discharged, medically unfit
from the Service 29 September 1901, and was given the post of Barrack Warden
at Dover on 8 September
1902, in which
capacity he was mentioned for valuable services in connection with the Great
War 2 September 1918. On 12 June, 1897, at Hunton, near Maidstone, Kent,
Sergeant Traynor married Jane Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Elizabeth and
James Martin. Their children were: Alice Kathleen, born 5 May, 1898
(deceased); Francis Bernard Redvers, born 7 December 1899 (deceased); Cecil
Robert, born 4 May, 1903; WilKam Bothwell and Victor Charles, born 5 April,
1905, and Eileen May, born 20 July, 1910.
