Sergeant William Traynor VC.
- 19 December 2012 21:01206539William Traynor's VC was sold yesterday at an all included price of £190,000. A good but not exceptional price for an early VC.
6th February, 1901, Bothwell Camp, South Africa. The camp was under night attack from a strong force of Boers and a fellow member of Traynors' unit - the 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, was lying in open ground, badly wounded. Traynor left the safty of his position and ran to his aid and was shot down and wounded himself, a second member of the until went to his aid and together they brought the first man in. Traynor, while wounded, stayed in command of his men until reluief arrived in the morning, for this he was awarded the VC.
He later returned home to Dover where he died in 1954. He lies in Charlton Church Yard.
Dover serves as the last resting place of five VC holders, they are as follows - Mc Wheeney VC,Wooden VC,Ward VC,House VC and Traynor VC.
Anyone wishing to visit these graves are welcome to contact me via my website, the link, as ever, is below.Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk - 19 December 2012 21:04206540Some good information on the VC's here:
http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/Information/Jottings/Dovercemeteries/VC.htmBeen nice knowing you :) - 19 December 2012 21:14206542What a shame that Private Henry Ward, 78th Regiment, is so often overlooked, he was awarded the VC in September 1857, at Lucknow in India. HIs grave is very close to the others in St James's but is very badly weatherworn and is almost unreadable, I hope the image I have of it will be good enough for you all to read, but downsizeing it does' reduce the value.
Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk - 19 December 2012 21:20206543Didn't know of Henry Ward - where is he?Been nice knowing you :)
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,816
19 December 2012 21:28206545Considering the VC is not awarded very often, I would have thought Dover has a fairly high proportion with five.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 19 December 2012 23:42206551I must admit I had only heard of 4 VC burials in Dover Cemeteries. Strangely, it appears a Henry Ward VC is also buried in Great Malvern cemetery!
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/worceste.htm - 20 December 2012 00:41206555William Traynor VC was also Barracks Warden at Dover Castle after returning to Dover, I have access to a photo of him in uniform with his medals including the VC. if you are interested Phil.
- 20 December 2012 00:57206556William Traynor V.C. was born in Hull on the 31st December 1870 and was of Irish decent and his name is on the Irish Roll of Honour. On the 20th October 1954 aged 83 William Traynor passed away
.
Nine weeks before his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment, and served a number of years in India. After his return to England in about 1895, he met Miss Jane Elizabeth Martin of Hunton in Kent and they were married on 12th June 1897 in Hunton, Nr. Maidstone. They had six children: Alice Kathleen born May 5th 1897 who died in 1898; Francis Bernard Redver, born December 7th 1898. Both these children died at a very young age, Cecil Robert born May 4th 1903 and Ellen May born July 20th 1910. Twin boys William Bothwell and Victor Charles born April 5th 1905, both followed in their fathers footsteps and joined the Royal Engineers and by the age of 45, had both gained the Rank of Major.
William Traynor served in South Africa from 1899 until 1901, during which time he saw action In the following campaigns. Willow Grange, November 22nd and 23rd 1899. Colenso, Spion Cop, Vall Krantz, Natal ending at Pieters Hill, Northern Natal and Orange River Colony, including action at Laings Nek and East and West Transvaal. Severely wounded on the night of February 6th 1901; the action where he won his Victoria Cross, arriving at the Hospital on February 15th.
Whilst in Hospital, for his services in these campaigns, he was awarded Queens South Africa Medal with Clasps (bars) for, Tagela Heights, the relief of Ladysmith, Laings Nek, and the Transvaal and Orange River for 1901. He was also presented with the Coronation Medals for George V1 and Queen Elizabeth 11 1953.
On September 18th 1901 the following report appeared in the " The Graphic". The Coveted Honour of the Victoria Cross is to be bestowed on, Lieut, F. B. Dugdale of the 5th Lancers and Sgt. W.B. Traynor, 2nd Battalion Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) for their conspicuous gallantry in South Africa. His Citation in the London gazette on September 17th 1901 read as follows:
"During the night attack on Bothwell camp on the 6th February 1901, Sgt Traynor jumped out of a trench and ran under extremely heavy fire to the assistance of a wounded man. While running out he was severely wounded himself, he called for assistance, Lance Corporal Lintott at once came to him, and between them, they carried the wounded soldier to shelter. After this. although severely wounded Sgt. Traynor remained in charge of his section, and was most cheerful, encouraging his men until the attack failed"
His wounds were so serious he had to be invalided home to the U.K. where he spent a long time recuperating under medical treatment.
Owing to his state of health, he was unable to travel to London to receive his decoration from King Edward V!!. Colonel Edward Stephenson Browne V.C., (who had won his own Victoria Cross in the Zulu War), presented him with the Victoria Cross on July 2nd, 1902 at the West Yorkshire Barracks in York.
Corporal Lintott who was also mentioned in the citation was awarded the D.C.M. the second highest Award (nicknamed the almost, but not quite) and promoted to Sergeant by Lord Kitchener in South Africa.
The following is an extract from Orders by Major-General Smith Dorrien dated February 7th 1901: The G.O.C. compliments most highly the steadiness of all Infantry Battalions in the outpost line during the 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 piquet's having followed a mob of 200 stampeded cavalry horses.
Sgt Traynor was discharged from the Army medically unfit, on September 29th 1901. He applied for and was given a post as Barrack Warden at Dover on September 8th 1902. During the First World War whilst on duty at Dover he earned a Mention in Despatches. He held the post of Barrack Warden for 33 years until he retired in 1935 at the age of 65.
It was during a celebration on the 50th anniversary of his winning the Victoria Cross, he showed a letter to a newspaper correspondent, from the District Paymaster, a lieutenant Colonel which read as follows: " Your Husband having been killed in action February 6th 1901. you are no longer entitled to any further payments from this office. Please return your certificate of identity." - 20 December 2012 05:27206557Great History there Harry and Phil, thank you both.
Roger - 20 December 2012 23:13206768To answer Paul at #4, It seems he may be at 1 or maybe 2, places. One stone could be a grave marker, one may be a monument stone, but which is which? In St James he lies just a few feet from House VC but the stone is in a terrible state of repair, if I can prove that this is his last resting place then I will do all I can to have his, and Traynor VC place of rest repaired and remembered. Lord Ashcroft will help me in this, again I ask, watch this space!Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk
- 20 December 2012 23:17206769Harry #7, Thanks for all you can give me - get me at wyborn-brown@tiscali .co uk
thanks for your help!Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk - 21 December 2012 10:29206814Phil I have sent you an e-mail hope it is OK.
- 5 January 2013 11:16208591Another VC from BBC news...
Kent VC Trust schoolboy begins war graves mission
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-20906354Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 5 January 2013 12:17208593Thanks for that Tom, given me a couple of ideas. I am also looking at ways to take care of Traynor VC's resting place, I intend to photograph his grave within a week or so and will report back, thanks again.Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk
- 5 January 2013 12:49208596Phil,
You might find Michael [Lord] Ashcroft might be interested in the plight of the headstones, he has a great interest in VC holders, as you are probably aware.
He is someone who might just fund a local project.
Can be contacted thru House of Lords.
Charlie E might do the ground work for you.
Watty - 5 January 2013 20:06208644Very interesting - good luck Phil
- 31 January 2013 18:13213029After sending e-mails to Phil Wyborn-Brown about the late William Traynor VC, I talked about it in my Lodge the Dover Patrol Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. The late William Traynor VC was one of the three Founder members of the Dover Patrol Lodge on the 20th August 1921, he was also the member that gave the lodge it's name, so it was of interest to them to know his grave was in such a bad state.
Two members of the lodge and myself volunteered to go up to the grave and see what we could do to improve the condition and the pictures show the outcome, we have also decided not to let the grave get back into such a neglected state.
- 31 January 2013 18:57213033Well done Harry. It looks beautiful now.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,816
31 January 2013 21:21213044Well done indeed, I had to look twice before I realised the marble/stone? was the same but lovely and clean.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 31 January 2013 22:09213050What an amazing difference and a wonderful mark of respect.
Well done Harry and the others.
Roger
