Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

George Percival Rayner was born on the 20th or 27th February 1894 at Strathfield, NSW, the son of Rev George Lesingham Rayner and Sarah Grace Rayner.

Schooling

George attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide from 1907. In December 1907 he was awarded fourth prize in the Upper Fourth Form. He passed his Primary Examinations in 1909.

In August 1908 George won the Junior High Jump at the PAC Sports. In 1910 George came second in the 300 yards steeplechase at the PAC Sports and was a member of the PAC athletics team for the Inter-Collegiate Sports against St Peter’s College. In 1911 George competed at the PAC swimming competitions.

In April 1914 George came third in the Old Scholars race at the PAC Sports.

Early Career

George commenced working as a clerk. In 1913 he played Lacrosse for Holdfast Bay. In December 1913 he passed three Senior Examinations (Latin, Arithmetic & Algebra and Geometry) followed by a pass in Greek in March 1914. He had studied Greek privately with Miss Langman.

University

George commenced studying for a Bachelor of Arts at Adelaide University in 1914. He was also a student at Parkin College, the Congregational Theological College. George deferred his studied at the end of 1915 to enlist in WW1.

University Sport

Football
George played A & B Grade football for Adelaide University. In 1914, he was a member of the B Grade Premiership Team. The following year he played A Grade in the Amateur League competition he along-side his younger brother, Howard Luscombe Rayner.

Cricket
George played B Grade cricket for Adelaide University in the 1914/15 and 1915/16 season and again in 1919/20.

Athletics
George competed in the Adelaide University Sports in 1914 and came second in the High Jump and first in the Running Broad Jump

World War I

George enlisted on 25th November 1915 with the occupation of Theological Student. He had been in the 78th Cadets and the 78th Citizens Forces prior to enlisting. His mother Sarah Grace Rayner of 15 Partridge St, Glenelg, South Australia was listed as his Next-of-Kin. George was 21 years old and described as 5’9”, 140 lbs, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

After attending NCO School and being appointed a Sergeant, George embarked on the 9th of June 1916 with the 43rd Battalion. He was sick and in hospital in England from the 23rd of November 1916 to the 1st of April 1917 when he rejoined his unit in France.

On the 25th of October 1917, George was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal - 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When detailed to retake a post which had been captured by the enemy, it was found that an enemy machine gun rendered a direct advance impossible. He thereupon carried out a successful counter attack, and, with the assistance of another platoon leader, retook the post. By his coolness and good handling of the situation he inspired his men to persevere with an undertaking which at one moment looked almost impossible. The success of the operation was due to his initiative and presence of mind.'

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 76 Date: 23 May 1918

On the 20th of November 1917 George was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant. He was transferred to the 11th MG Company. George was wounded in action on 26th May 1918 (gassed) and was sent to England on sick leave. He rejoined his unit on the 8th of August 1918.

After hostilities had ceased George returned to England in January 1919. He contracted influenza while in England. He returned to Australia on 4th May 1919 per ‘Kildonian Castle’ and his appointment was terminated on the 29th of June 1919.

George had some hearing loss prior to joining up and this was exacerbated by his active service.

Post War Career and Family Life

On his return from the war George picked up his studies at Parkin College and Adelaide University. In February 1920 he played cricket for the Adelaide University B grade. George was an active member of the Adelaide University Christian Union. He won the Cornish prize at Parkin College in October 1920 and gained his Bachelor of Arts in December 1920.

George completed his studies at Parkin College in late 1921 and took charge of the Vardon Memorial Church, King’s Park from 1 January 1922.

George was at the dedication of the Soldiers’ Cemetery (West Terrace) in November 1922. George’s views on the success of theological colleges were published in December 1922.

In January 1923 George passed his final subjects toward a Bachelor of Divinity at the Melbourne College of Divinity, he was awarded his BD in May 1923.

On the 4th of April 1923 George Percival Rayner (aged 29) married Idalie Mary Alberta Morris (b 16th of December 1991, aged 31), the daughter of Charles Richard Morris at the Vardon Memorial Congregational Church, King’s Park, Adelaide.

From January 1923, George had oversight of the Congregational Church at Happy Valley, in conjunction with his work at Vardon Memorial Church.

From June 1923 to December 1927, George was the minister at the Augustine Congregational Church at Auburn, Victoria. George and Idalie lived at 10 Auburn Grove, Auburn and on the 21st of June 1924 their first child, a son, Christopher Stephen “Steve” Rayner was born.
In August 1924, George spent a month preaching at Albion Heights in Queensland. In July 1925 George assisted his father at the marriage of their sister and daughter, Margaret Grace (Peggy) to Charles Sydney Bates. George and Idalie’s second son Augustine Durham (Durham) Rayner was born on the 20th of May 1926.

The family left Victoria in December 1927 and spent two months in South Australia before departing for England. They left Sydney, Australia onboard the Cathay (Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd) and arrived in Plymouth, England on the 7th of April 1928. Their first place of residence in England was at 1 Walpole Road, Twickenham, London. By April 1929, George had accepted the pastorate of the church at Staines, London a position he still held in 1936. In 1938 the family received a visit from Idalie’s sister Miss Ermyn Morris.

In 1933, George was granted a commission as Chaplain in the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, Territorial Army. Idalie had a trip back to Australia on her own in 1933. She departed from London on the 7th of July 1933, onboard the Bendigo with Adelaide listed as her destination.

On the 15th of April 1948, George and Idalie left London onboard the Stratheden (P and O), bound for Adelaide. The couple were in Adelaide until at least August 1948 when George gave a speech on “The England I Love” that month. Their residence back in England was at 30 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton.

George, Idalie and Durham returned to Australia permanently in 1956. They departed from London onboard the Arcadia, (P and O) on the 18th of January. Their residence in England at that time had been, 3 Warminster Road, S.E. Christopher, then aged 22, remained in England.

Back in Australia, George was on the circuit again and preached at Congregational Union Sunday at Victor Harbor in March 1958.

Death

George Percival Rayner died on the 8th of December 1976, aged 82, and was cremated at Centennial Park, Adelaide on the 10th of December 1976.

Idalie Mary A Rayner died in June 1977 at Aylesbury, England, aged 86.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.