The elder son of Edward Rayner, Beechlands, Wadhurst, Sussex; went to school at Heddon Court and at the South-Eastern College, Ramsgate, where he shone in sports. At Pembroke College, Cambridge, he was in the first class of the Natural Science Tripos, 1908. He passed on to St Thomas's Hospital, where he acted as House Surgeon and Casualty Officer, and became FRCS. On Aug 6th, 1914, he received a temporary Commission as Surgeon RN, and served with the Royal Naval Divisional Engineers at Gallipoli. He went through the campaign from start to finish. He suffered from epidemic jaundice and was seriously ill for a time after the evacuation. After recovering he was appointed in the autumn of 1916 as Surgeon to the *Vanguard*. On the night of July 9th, 1917, the battleship *Vanguard*, 19,250 tons, whilst at anchor in harbour blew up. Of her complement of 62 officers and over 700 men, 24 officers and 71 men were ashore on leave. Of those on board at the time of the explosion there were only two survivors. The three Medical Officers - Fleet-Surgeon E Cox, RN, Staff-Surgeon W G Barras, RNVR, and Surgeon E Rayner - lost their lives. Rayner's name is inscribed on the Roll of Honour. "A Consulting Surgeon", in the *Lancet*, expressed a high opinion of his ability, sound surgical judgement, and fearless and devoted conduct; a cheery messmate who never complained of monotony on board a battleship.