Personal info
- Name: William Bernard TRAYNOR
- D.O.B: 31st Dec, 1870
- D.O.A: 6th Feb, 1901
- D.O.D: 20th Oct, 1956
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Sergeant, 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Bothwell Camp, Transvaal, South Africa 6 February 1901
6 February 1901
The Second Boer War 1899 - 1902
As a result of Boer attacks on the Delagoa Bay railway line, Lieutenant General J D P French was ordered to clear Boer commandos under the command of General Louis Botha from the area south of the line as far as the Johannesburg to Natal railway. He hoped to encircle Botha near Ermelo. On 5 February 1901 his column camped at Bothwell, at the northern end of Lake Chrissie, about halfway between Carolina and Ermelo. At about 3am and for the next hour Botha’s men attacked the camp. The fiercest assault fell on the part of the perimeter defended by 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment. The Boers were eventually beaten off, but the British suffered heavy casualties and Botha and two thousand men were able to escape from the trap French was planning for them.
Citation
During the night attack on Bothwell Camp on the 6th February, 1901, Sergeant Traynor jumped out of a trench and ran out under an extremely heavy fire to the assistance of a wounded man. While running out he was severely wounded, and being unable to carry the man by himself he called for assistance. Lance-Corporal Lintott at once came to him and between them they carried the wounded soldier into shelter. After this, although severely wounded, Sergeant Traynor remained in command of his section, and was most cheerful, encouraging his men till the attack failed.