ANZAC - the GRAY boys
Mrs Gray and her four soldier sons, 1916
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Sometimes, you begin researching just one person and end up discovering a whole family of soldiers. They may not have all been in the Gallipoli campaign, but certainly still worth noting for their other military contributions.
The couple married in New Zealand, in 1883.
William John David
(b. Jul-Sep 1885, Mt. Benger)
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A baker by trade, and listed as being single, he signed up for his military service in Australia (at Kalgoorlie) during February of 1915, and was assigned to the Field Ambulance, 4th Reinforcements, of the Australian Imperial Force, and he wouldn't finish his service until June of 1919, when he returned to Australia. His highest service ranking achieved was as a Lieutenant-Sergeant. Records show he missed taking part in the Gallipoli campaign as he wasn't sent overseas until June of 1915, after his training was complete.
From his Australian military service records, it shows he earned the
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown conspicuous gallantry while attending wounded under fire. During a counter attack made by the regiment at Ghoraniyeh bridgehead on 11 April, 1918, he attended the wounded in the open at great personal risk.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135
Date: 11 December 1919 source
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William Henry Gray
(b. 13 Mar 1892, Roxburgh; d. 30 Nov 1959, Coromandel)
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most often known as Henry (because his older brother was also a William), but sometimes also known as Walter.
According to his military records, he was shot in both thighs:
The handwriting isn't all that easy to decipher, but the full page can be read (and enlarged) here.
By October of that same year he was assessed by the military Medical Board (in Dunedin) as being fit enough again for active service. He was finally discharged from the army in June of 1918.
Thomas Joseph Gray
(b. 2 Jun 1890; d. 25 Sep 1975)
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During WWI he earned several medals - the Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
He was in the Otago Mounted Rifles Corp. The highest rank he held was as a (unpaid) Lance Corporal.
His military records show that while in France he was wounded (in the face) during September of 1916:
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but not seriously enough to be invalided out, although he was reassigned to a command depot in England. The next year he was appointed as a cook.
This is his certificate of discharge from military service.
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His full military records can be read here.
George Francis Gray
(b. 19 Jan 1894, Roxburgh; d. 13 Jun 1962, Dunedin)
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He joined the military in February of 1916, later than his brothers.
Interestingly, it appears from his military records that he was a member of the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion (something I'd not heard of). The history on them can be read here.
At one point during 1917 he got caught doing something rather naughty:
The full page can be read (and enlarged) here, but what it appears to say is that George was "contravening censorship regulations by sending prohibited articles through the post [something] making a false declaration as to contents of parcels addressed to NZ".
I wonder what was in those parcels?
His military medical records show that he had been gassed, and had to have treatment for it.
His time in the military eventually ended when he was discharged in June of 1919, and it looks like he received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He is buried in the Dunedin cemetery.
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Notes:
The original version of the newspaper photograph of Mrs Gray surrounded by her soldier sons can be seen here, with further details.
William and Julia had three other children:
- James Alexander (b. 1888; d. 1944)
- Mary Rubina Victoria Arabelle (b. 1897)
- Frederick Watson Wilson (b. 1899; d. 1918)
William Gray's cemetery records show he was born at sea, and that he'd been a butcher. Julia's cemetery records show she was born in Australia.
the family headstone (although not all members are here)
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Their sons' military records mention that William's family originated in Scotland, near Glasgow, and Julia was from somewhere in the province of Victoria.
On the 18th of June, 1902 it was reported in the newspaper that:
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William's obituary, 1930:
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A newspaper snippet relating to Julia:
published 4 Mar 1908
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Frederick Watson Wilson Gray obituary:
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Bibliography:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/
http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search
http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries_search
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/specialist-units/cyclist-battalion
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=117617
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This one's my favourite so far (but I've only read 2). Also, who calls both their kids William? Were there no other names they could think of?
lol, I know right? It is something I strike occasionally while doing genealogy. Perhaps the older one had been sickly and they were hedging their naming bets?
That still doesn't make sense.
Not to us, no. lol But the father was called William and they did like their naming patterns. :D
This is a fascinating band of brothers. It is amazing to me that "contravening censorship" was such a naughty thing back then. Here we are on Steemit 100 years later doing exactly the same thing with impunity! LOL :)
hehe, aren't we just!
Considering some of the detailed military information written by soldiers and sent home, then published in the newspapers it really makes me wonder just what naughty Mr Gray wrote!