Born into the pioneering wine-making Reynell family of Reynella, South Australia, he was killed in action during the Battle of Hill 60.

[1] Reynell attempted to enlist in the Australian army to fight in the Second Boer War but was prevented from doing so by his father.

Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Reynell volunteered to serve in the Australian Imperial Force.

[4][5] A Roman Catholic,[4] Reynell was a member of the Adelaide Hunt Club and enjoyed polo in his spare time.

They had two children: a daughter, Lydia, and a son, Richard, who became a fighter and test pilot, and died in combat during the Battle of Britain almost 25 years to the day after his father was killed at Gallipoli.