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15152 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Owen Rayner was born in Great Cornard on 1 September 1897, the youngest of three surviving children of William and Eliza Rayner (née Gilbert). His father was a postman and the family lived at 42 East Street in Sudbury before later moving to Waldingfield Road. Owen attended St. Gregory & St. Peter’s School in Sudbury and went on to West Suffolk County School in Bury St. Edmunds.
Owen returned to Sudbury as a student teacher at his old school before enlisting in March 1916 to serve with the Queen’s Own (Royal West Regiment). His service medical record describes him as 5ft 6ins in height, weighing 120lbs with a 31 inch chest. He was slightly flat footed but quite supple and could hop.
Owen embarked for France on 13 January 1917 and joined ‘D’ company two days later. The battalion formed part of 37th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division and in the spring of 1917 saw action during the Battle of Arras at the First Battle of the Scarpe (9 - 14 April) and the Third Battle of the Scarpe (3 - 4 May). The division suffered over 3,500 casualties between 25 April and 16 May 1917.
Owen died aged 19 on 4 May 1917 and lies buried in Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by the grave in March 2007 and October 2011.
Owen was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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