Lt. Cdr. Denys Arthur Rayner DSC & Bar, VRD, RNVR (1908-1967) fought throughout the Battle of the Atlantic, rising to command the destroyer Shikari and the 30th Escort Group. After intensive war service at sea, Rayner became a writer, a farmer, and a successful designer and builder of small sailing craft. He founded Westerly Marine Construction Ltd, up until the late 1980s, one of Britain's most successful yacht builders.
He was born in Muswell Hill, London, and attended Repton School. Flat feet kept him from entering the Royal Navy but he joined HMS Eaglet, Mersey Division RNVR as a part-time midshipman with time to pursue his interest in exploring the rocky coast of the Western Highlands in a small boat of his own design. His wrinting career began in 1955 with a personal account of 'his' war, called 'Escort: the Battle of the Atlantic' but he is probably best known for 'The Enemy below' which was made into a film.