| Regimental number | 20 |
| Place of birth | Riverton, South Australia |
| School | Crystal Brook Public School, South Australia |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Chauffeur |
| Address | Crystal Brook, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Height | 5' 5.75" |
| Weight | 119 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Walter Henry Gray, Crystal Brook, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Served for 2 years in the Volunteer School Cadets; disbanded. Previously rejected for AIF enlistment on account of chest measurement. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Keswick, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from |
| The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 20.4 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 20 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 120 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Walter and Ada GRAY, Crystal Brook, South Australia |
| Family/military connections | Father: 1859 Pte Walter Henry GRAY, 4th Pioneer Bn, returned to Australia, 23 August 1917; Brother: 972 Corporal Alfred James GRAY, 10th Bn, returned to Australia, 21 July 1918; Cousins: 6252 SQMS John LORD MSM, 4th Division Headquarters, effective abroad (still overseas); 3869 Pte Harry LORD MM, 48th Bn, returned to Australia, 1 July 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Adelaide, 18 Novemner 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915. Found guilty, 9 January 1916, of disobedience of orders viz. failing to appear at a time & place appointed - Ferry fatigue: awarded forfeiture of 1 day's pay and confined to barracks for 3 days. Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 17 February 1916 (frontal sinusis inflammation); transferred same day to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital; rejoined Bn, Tel el Kebir, 28 February 1916. Found guilty, 22 March 1916, of overstaying leave from 2200, 17 March, to 2145, 18 March 1916: awarded forfeiture of 2 days' pay and confined to barracks for 2 days. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Missing, 20 July 1916. Identification disc received from Germany (German Death List, 4 November 1916). No particulars were afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION 20/7/16. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Red Cross File No 1201007, letter to Mr A.J. Gay, brother, 26 October 1920: ' ... our representative in Germany, after an exhaustive search, has found his name entered in a German death record. This entry merely states that he fell on 19th or 20th July 1916 near Fromelles; from it we presume that his body was found and buried by the Germans, where I fear, we shall never know, but probably with many others, in a large grave.' |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, GRAY Edwin Charles
Red Cross file 1201007 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
