[3] He was a 30 year old sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own), British Army during the Second Boer War when the following act led to the award of the Victoria Cross: During the night attack on Bothwell Camp on the 6th February, 1901, Sergeant Traynor jumped out of a trench and ran out under an extremely heavy fire to the assistance of a wounded man.

After this, although severely wounded, Sergeant Traynor remained in command of his section, and was most cheerful, encouraging his men till the attack failed.

Settling in Dover in Kent in 1902, he served as a civilian orderly room clerk, then a barrack warden, until he retired in 1935.

[3] Traynor was a member of the Dover branch of the British Legion, serving as its vice chairman for 10 years.

[6] Traynor's medals, including his Victoria Cross, are held at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.