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William Gray (1888-1917)


Newcastle miner served with the 1st/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry


William Gray was born in Newcastle in 1888 to his Irish parents John and Ellen Gray. His father was from Dublin whilst his mother came from Kilkenny. During their marriage the couple had at least six children. The 1891 census shows the family living in Hutton Henry but by the time of the 1901 census they had moved to Walker, Newcastle. John, along with his oldest four sons were working in the colliery. This included William who, aged only 13, was working as a landing keeper.

William’s father died in 1909 leaving Ellen the head of the household. The family were still living in Walker in 1911 and all the sons were working as miners. William was now working as a hewer.

William enlisted in Stockton although the exact date when he enlisted is not clear. There is no record of him being awarded the 1915 Star suggesting he did not begin serving abroad before 1916. William served in the 1st/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) as a private.

By April 1917 William was serving with his battalion in the Arras area where there had been heavy fighting for some time. The war diary for the day of William’s death, Monday 23 April 1917, reports the battalion started the day in ‘Niger trench.’ The men then moved from this trench to the bankside east of the river at Wancourt to assist other companies who were in need of help.

It was a day of heavy casualties as reported by the Commanding Officer in his war diary. William was among 27 soldiers killed in action that day. Over 200 other soldiers were reported wounded or missing.

Civil Parish: Hutton Henry

Birth date: 1888

Death date: 23-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 9 Vane Street, Hutton Henry (1891 Census)
7 Tyne Street, Walker, Newcastle (1901 Census)
1571 Walker Road, Newcastle (1911 Census)

Employment: Coal miner – Landing keeper (1901 Census)
Miner – Hewer (1911 Census)

Family: Parents: John Gray, Ellen Gray
Siblings: James Gray, John Gray, Charles Gray, Julia Gray, Henry Gray

Military service:

1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Service numbers 3565, 200466
Private

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial
DLI Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral

Gender: Male

Contributed by Brenda Mc, Gateshead

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