Sergeant L Rayner to Mrs Annie Haynes regarding her son George
Sent by: Sergeant L Rayner
Sent to: Mrs Annie Haynes
Sent from: Sicily
Date of letter: 9 November 1943
The letter, dated 9th November 1943, was sent to my father’s mother, Mrs Annie Haynes. It concerns her son (my father), George Stephen William Haynes, who was serving as a Royal Marine and was aged 18 at the time.
Although my father always remained proud of the Marines, he very rarely spoke of his wartime experiences and only told us about a funny event when he did.
However, one day in the 1970s, when I was in my twenties, he showed me this letter which was the only one he had kept from his war years. It had been sent to Dad’s mother by Sergeant L Rayner of the detachment R.M. Det 380/16, in which my father was serving as part of Operation Husky (the Invasion of Sicily – the first major Allied assault on German occupied Europe).
The Sgt had written in a quiet spell after what appears to have been a significant battle and without my father’s knowledge at the time. The letter hints of the heavy fighting the unit had endured. However, it is very personable and praises my father greatly. Dad was aged 18 at the time.
Sgt Rayner tells of the unit talking about their families and home. I am amazed and grateful that, given the circumstances, he took the time to write to my grandmother to reassure her and to tell of Dad’s bravery. It is obvious from his words that letters meant so much to everyone, both at home and to those serving abroad.
Because of this letter, my brother, sister and I know of a small detail of Dad’s war and of his courage.
We lost Dad in 1992. He would have been 100 in July this year and we will never know his Sgt’s first name or anything of his background. I can only hope that one day this letter might be read by someone who may know more of the circumstances in which it was sent – and by a miracle, Sgt Rayner’s family may know of his kindness.
Although Dad did not meet my mother until after the war it is ironic that my maternal grandmother had suffered the loss of her eldest son (my Uncle Jack) in 1942. He too served as a Royal Marine and died following the sinking of his ship, HMS Exeter. Evidently, my grandfather hid the newspaper, with the headline of the loss of the Exeter, from my grandmother.
