Enid Susannah Rayner (1905 - 1985)

Born 9 Sep 1905 in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 6 Mar 1985 at age 79 in Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Sister Enid Susannah Rayner

Enid Rayner was born in New South Wales, Australia

Enid Susannah Rayner was born on Saturday, 9th September 1905 in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. She was the second daughter of Syd Rayner and Edie Sheppard. ^[1] Her mother died in 1910, five days after giving birth to twins. Her father married again in 1914, to Edie's younger sister, Ellen Sheppard, having another two sons (one of whom died in infancy) and two daughters. ^[2] The family continued to live in Mudgee until the early 1920s, when they moved to Enfield, in the western suburbs of the State's capital city, Sydney. ^[3]

Enid was a Nurse

Enid was a Nurse at the St George District Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales in December 1939 at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War. ^[4][5]

Enid Rayner is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 19 Aug 1940-12 Apr 1946
2/3rd Casualty Clearing Station, Australian Army Nursing Service

On 19th August 1940 at Victoria Barracks, Paddington, New South Wales, Enid was commissioned as a Nurse (Lieutenant) in the Second Australian Imperial Force's Australian Army Nursing Servce. She was posted to the 2/3rd Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). ^[6] Casualty Clearing Stations were medical facilities, located just beyond the range of enemy artillery and often near transportation facilities, that were used to treat wounded soldiers. They would often have to move at very short notice. Casualties that could not be adequately treated in the CCS were stabilised there before being transported to a Field Hospital or General Hospital. They were simila to the United States' M.A.S.H. Units.

Although initially earmarked for the 8th Division and Malaya, the 2/3rd CCS embarked for the Middle East in December 1940 as part of the 9th Division. In March 1941 they were again re-allocated, this time to the 6th Division and went with them to Greece where they operated at Larissa and then at Ellasson before being forced back in late April to the beaches at Navplion from where they were evacuated. As with many other units they were forced to leave most of their equipment behind. Following the Armistice in Syria, they deployed to Beirut, Lebanon, where they acted as a hospital. In June 1942 the 2/3rd CCS re-located to Tripoli, Lebanon, but were soon rushed to the western desert in Northen Africa to support units seeking to halt the rapid German advance on Egypt. The 2/3rd CCS established itself at Sidi Bishr, where they supported troops defending the line around El Alamein. They left the Middle East for Australia in January 1943, but were detoured, with the remainder of the 6th Division, to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) as a garrison force to thwart any invasion by the Japanese. Here, the nurses quickly learned as much as they could of tropical jungle health issues. In August that year they returned to Australia and deployed to Milne Bay in Papua. A month later the unit landed on Red Beach near Lae to handle casualties from the advance on Lae and then to Finschhafen. In May 1945 they moved to Morotai prior to their movement to Balikpapan in July, where they remained for the rest of the war. ^[7] Enid was demobilsed on 12th April 1946 with the rank of Captain (Sister). ^[6] Following the war, Enid was issued the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 and Australian Service Medal 1945-75. ^[8]

Enid passed away on Wednesday, 6th March 1985 in Castle Hill, New South Wales, aged 79 years, 5 months, 27 days. ^[9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #25500/1905
2. ↑ see father's profile
3. ↑ ascertained from places of birth, marriage and death of parents and siblings
4. ↑ REGISTER OF NURSES AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1939. Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 13 Aug, p. 3381. viewed 30 Dec 2021
5. ↑ Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), Tue 13 Aug 1940 [Issue No.111 (SUPPLEMENT)] , Page 3381, REGISTER OF NURSES AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1939
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX70246 Captain Enid Susannah Rayner; accessed 30 Dec 2021
7. ↑ Bertwistle Wiki: 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station; accessed 7 Mar 2022
8. ↑ National Archives Australia: 4615499
9. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #7353/1985
10. ↑ RAYNER Enid S Death notice 06MAR1985 Death at Castle Hill Sydney Morning Herald 07MAR1985 Ryerson Index accessed 30 Dec 2021

See also

• Space: The Rayner Roots Branches and Twigs 1740 ~ 1987 by Harold and Frances Atkins. Page 29.