Name
Harry Gray
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/01/1916
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
M2/045544
Army Service Corps
135th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MONDICOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Near North-West corner.
France
Headstone Inscription
PEACE PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Harry was born in Harpenden on 14 Oct 1879 to George Gray, beer retailer, and Susan (nee Partridge).
On the 1891 Census they were living at the Three Horseshoes, Harpenden Common. On the 1901 Census still at the Three Horseshoes Harry was a bricklayer and his 5 brothers were also in this trade.
He married Sarah Messenger in 1907 and on the 1911 Census they were living at Stables, Whinny Rigg, Hatching Green, Harpenden and Harry was working as Chaffeur and Groom. There were two children George Henry, 1907 and Douglas 1909.
Wartime Service
Harry was enlisted in the Army Service Corps on 20 Jan 1915 as Private M2/466412 and went to France on 26 Jul 1915.
He died accidently while at Moudicourt on 7 Jan 1916. His Commanding Officer wrote: ‘His loss will be much felt in the company: he had always proved himself an efficient and skilful driver, while his good nature and cheerful disposition made him very popular with all ranks’ and L/Cpl F Wells ‘It happened about 6 a.m. as he was starting up his lorry; through some cause or other the gears got into mesh, immediately putting the lorry in motion and pinning poor Gray between the front of the lorry and back of another one standing in front of it, no one being able to assist in any way, as it happened so quickly. I can assure you the whole company feel the loss of such a staunch and true comrade, from the Commanding Officer to Private.’
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs. S. Gray, Breadcroft Road, Harpenden, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "PEACE PERFECT PEACE".
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
