Sergeant Samuel Rainey MM MSM
Samuel Rainey was born on 14 March 1884 in Mercer Street, Lisburn, County Down, the second of twelve children of engine driver (later bleacher, and beetler) William Rainey and his wife Rachel (née Morrow). At the time of the 1901 Census he was living in Gregg Street, Lisburn, with his parents and eight siblings, and working as a dyer in a mill.
Rainey enlisted in the Lancers of the Line Regiment at Belfast on 2 August 1902. He was posted to the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers and assigned regimental number 6747. On 27 September 1905 he was transferred to the 12th (Prince of Wales Royal) Lancers (No.5836), having sailed for service in India earlier that month. He returned to the UK in February 1910, where he returned to the 5th Lancers. On 1 August 1910 he was placed in the Army Reserve on completion of his eight years' service, and four years later he was discharged.
At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Lisnatrunk, Drumbeg, County Down, with his parents and eight of his ten surviving siblings, and working as a linen bleacher.
Rainey re-enlisted, in the North Irish Horse, on 26 October 1914 (No.1337 – later Corps of Hussars No.71343).
He embarked for France with a reinforcement draft on 22 September 1915, joining D Squadron at Behencourt in early October.
Rainey remained with the squadron throughout the war, rising to the rank of sergeant.
In May 1916 the squadron joined with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, and in March 1918 the regiment was dismounted and converted to a corps cyclist regiment.
He saw action in the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918 and was mentioned in D Squadron's war diary of 5 October 1918:
Moved forward to Gouzecourt under orders of 64 Infantry Brigade 21st Division ... and sent out patrols under 2nd Lieutenant Blanden to Bonne Enfance Farm and 2nd Lieutenant Austin to Montecouvez Farm. Sergeant Rainey to Gratte Panche Farm. The first and third reported clear but Montecouvez strongly held by enemy.
For his actions during this period Rainey was awarded both the Meritorious Service Medal and Military Medal.
He was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 3 March 1919.
After the war Rainey worked as a police constable. He died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on 17 September 1932 and was buried in the Hillhall Family Burying Ground. (See articles below.)
His name is included on the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Roll of Honour: 1914-1919.
Two of Rainey's brothers also served in the war. William, a corporal in the 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was wounded. Henry, a rifleman in the same Battalion, was listed as wounded and missing on 29 March 1918. His death was later accepted.
Lisburn Standard, 23 September 1932
Belfast Telegraph, 24 September 1932
Image of Rainey's medals sourced from the Noonans Mayfair auction site.
This page last updated 28 September 2025.