Sergeant William Bernard Traynor 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 6th February 1901 |
On the night of February 6, 1901, Bothwell Camp was attacked by a large force of Boers. Under a very heavy fire, Traynor dashed out of his trench and went to the help of a man who had been shot, but, on the way to reach him, was severely wounded and prevented from carrying his comrade to a place of safety. Finding himself powerless to attempt alone what he had intended, he called for assistance, whereupon Corporal Lintott ran to him and together they contrived to carry the injured man to cover. Notwithstanding his serious wound, Traynor remained in command of his section, cheering his men and encouraging all by his devoted example, until, finally, the attack failed and the enemy drew off. Traynor, though born in Hull, December 31, 1870, is of Irish extraction, being son of Mr. Francis Traynor, of Monaghan. When in his eighteenth year, November 14, 1888, he enlisted into the West York Regiment, serving for some years in India, and from 1899 to 1901 in South Africa, receiving the Queen's medal and clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Laing's Nek, Transvaal and Orange Colony. His Company and Commanding Officers when he gained the Cross were Lieutenant G. L. Crossman, D.S.O., and Lieut.-Colonel W. Fry, C.B., and the well-earned decoration was presented to him by Colonel Edward Stevenson Browne—himself a Victoria Cross winner in the Zulu War of 1879—on July 2, 1902, at York. Owing to the seriousness of his wound Traynor was invalided in 1902, and now holds a post at Dover Castle. Corporal Lintott, who so nobly answered his comrade's call for assistance, was awarded the medal for Distinguished Conduct, and promoted Sergeant by Lord Kitchener. |