John Gordon "George" Gray (1900-1919)
Newcastle chauffeur served with 20th DLI accidentally shot buried in Cologne
John Gordon Gray, sometimes known as ‘George’, the son of Ralph and Alice Gray, was born on 16 June 1900 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and had a brother and two sisters. He lived all of his life in the Westgate area of Newcastle and was a chauffeur when he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 16 July 1918. He was called up for service on 30 September 1918 and posted to the 5th Battalion, but was later transferred to the 53rd Battalion and was sent to Cologne. After reaching Cologne he was transferred to the 20th Battalion and on 14 November he was accidentally shot by one of his comrades. The Court of Enquiry found that he was killed accidentally and he was buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery.
Birth date: 16-Jun-1900
Death date: 14-Nov-1919
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 4 Back Prospect Place, Westgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1901 census)
‘The Cottage’, 5 Back Mary Street, Westgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1911 census & British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920)
Employment: Chauffeur (British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920)
Family: Father: Ralph Gray
Mother: Alice Gray (nee Moffat)
Siblings: Frances, Watson & Mary Gray
Military service:
5th, 53rd & 20th Battalions, Durham Light Infantry
Service No.: 102692
Private
Memorial(s): Cologne Southern Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Grave Ref.: IV.F.9
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
