Queens South Africa Medal clasps Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal with clear ghost dates (2796 PTE. J.R. RAYNER. W. RIDING REGT); Kings South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2796 PTE. J. RAYNOR. W. RIDING REGT.)
John Robert Rayner (also Raynor/Rainor) was born in Lower Norton near Diss in Norfolk in 1870. He enlisted with the West Riding Regiment in York in 1890 and saw service, initially, with his regiment in the West Indies - Barbados and Jamaica - before sailing for South Africa where he was stationed from 1893 until 1898. He was then discharged to the Reserve on 6 March 1898 but recalled to the Colours and posted to the 1st battalion on 11 December 1899.
He was posted to South Africa on 29 December 1899 and fought in some of the epic engagements in the Western Theatre of the Anglo Boer War - Paardeberg and Driefontein - in the run-up to the Relief of Kimberley and the march on to take Bloemfontein and Pretoria - the Boer capitals. He was later engaged in the Transvaal and returned home on 28 July 1902, after the cessation of hostilities. He was discharged on the termination of his engagement on 31 August 1902.
He died in Roudham, Norfolk on 8 July 1934.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research. Note the discrepancy in the initials between medals - a common occurrence.
