:: For the Canadian-American political activist, see W. J. H. Traynor

William Bernard Traynor VC (31 December 1870 – 20 October 1954) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Traynor was born at 29 Moxon Street, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. He joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in November 1888 and served in India and, from October 1899, in South Africa.

He was a 30 year old sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own), British Army during the Second Boer War when the following act led to the award of the Victoria Cross:

Lance-Corporal Lintott was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the same action.

Traynor died on 20 October 1954 at Buckland Hospital in Dover aged 83, and is buried at Charlton Cemetery, Dover.

Traynor's medals, including his Victoria Cross, are held at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

Bibliography

  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
  • Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
  • Location of grave and VC medal
  • Dover War Memorial Project
  • Angloboerwar.com