Harrogate Herald - 28th March 1917

Roll of Honour

Mr & Mrs Thomas Rayner, 9 Moorland Road, Starbeck, whose son, Corporal W Rayner, was previously reported missing, had notice from the War Office on Sunday stating they were regretfully constrained to believe that he had been killed.

W H Breare letter

I told you at the time that Corporal Rayner, son of Mr and Mrs Rayner, 9 Moorland Road, Starbeck, was missing. The mother had been unable to obtain any definite news of their son, though they had vague messages from the Red Cross Society. On Sunday a notice came from the War Office apparently presuming his death. It was in September last that he was first missed. From what I can gather there is no direct evidence of his having been killed, therefore I should try still to hope and believe that Rayner was alive.