Ernest Rainey was born to Ernest and Ada Rainey in Greenwich during the last quarter of 1910. His father was a blacksmith's stoker and they lived at 24 Liardet Street, off Woodpecker Road in New Cross, London.

Late in 1934 Ernest married Rose Molly Pedrick in Southwark.

In 1939 Ernest and Rose were living with his parents in Belmont Rise, Reading Road, Wokingham along with his brother Sydney. Both Ernest and Sydney were labouring as public works contractors.

Ernest became a prisoner of war in Malaya and was presumed to have died whilst in captivity on or shortly after 5th May 1943 His army medical card originally gave his address as Winnersh, but this was corrected to Walworth, London. At the time his parents were still living in Belmont Rise, Winnersh.

Ernest Rainey was mentioned in dispatches on 10th January 1946, having been recommended in the Burma 7 Despatch.

He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.