John (Jack) Gray (DCM)

Name

John (Jack) Gray (DCM)
Circa 1887

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

18/01/1918

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Serjeant
203270
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd/4th Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Conduct Medal

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY
O. 104.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)

Headstone Inscription

Not Researched

UK & Other Memorials

Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin Town Hall Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the St Ippolyts memorials (*1)

Pre War

John Gray (junior) was born around 1887 in St Ippolyts and his parents were John and Emma Gray. He was in the choir of St. John's Church in Hitchin and also Captain of the St. John's Football Club. 

In 1891 the family were living at 3 Tittendale, St Ippolyts, nr Hitchin. Of his parents only Emma (27) was present and working as a dressmaker, the children present were John (3), William Samuel (2) and Mathew at 3-months. Her husband’s absence is explained by the fact he was working as a footman – one of many servants, at The Priory in Hitchin, which was the house of Francis Deline Radcliffe, a retired naval Commander and a Justice of the Peace.

In 1901 the family were living at 27 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (39) and Emma (37), with John and working as a distillery labourer. Their children were: John (junior, 14) and working as an errand boy, William Samuel (13), Matthew C (11) and Cecil F (7)*1. A Victor Sutton at 9 months and born in St Pancras, London was listed as a boarder.

By 1911 the family were living at 27 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents, John was still working as a distillery labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 24 years with 5 children, of whom 1 had died. Only one child was present All the children listed above were present, Frank Cecil Gray – presumably previously recorded as Cecil Frank, he was 19 and confirmed as a stoker in the Royal Navy. 

So far John (junior) has not been found in the 1911 census, however we believe that he worked in Mr Edwin File's shop for some years before he went to Bromley, Kent.

Officially John was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts. (should be St Ippolyts nearby) and enlisted in Bromley, Kent.

Wartime Service

John enlisted in 1914 in Bromley, Kent where he was working at the time. He was given the Regimental Number TF/2592 and then 203270 – probably during the renumbering of 1917. He was posted to the 2/4th Battalion of the Royal West Kents in the 53rd Division.

Local papers reported that he was in the landing in the Dardanelles (Gallipoli), which were in April 1915  and fought there throughout the campaign, however his medal cards records that he first served abroad when he entered the Balkans on 9 August 1915.

After the Allied evacuation of Gallipoli, he went to Egypt and saw much fighting in Palestine. He was present at the capture of Jerusalem He was almost certainly killed in action near the Shechln Road near Durah approximately 25 miles north of Jerusalem.

His award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was given while he was still a Corporal. His citation read: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried a wounded officer back from the front line under heavy fire, and then returned, took command of the men around him and by his conspicuous gallantry and splendid personal example encouraged them to push forward in the attack.”

He was buried in Grave O.104 in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.

Additional Information

Two of John’s pension cards record John (senior), his father, as his next of kin, living at 27 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin and list. It also gives details of John’s brother, Cecil Frank Gray, who was in the Royal Navy (see his biography for more details). Another card records an address for Emma (mother) at the same address.

After his death £12 14s 10d was authorised to go to his father on 5 October 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £18 was authorised to be paid to him on 6 December 1918.

Of his younger brothers. William was a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery and Matthew was also in the Royal Navy and was reported to have been “on a ship that was cut in two in the Channel, and was then in the water for four and a half hours.” and Cecil Frank Gray, who was in the Royal Navy and died in 1924 and has his own biography.

There is a J Gray on the St Ippollytts memorials, however one is listed a John Gray with no rank and the other as Private John Gray, Royal Berkshires. We have assumed that they is the same man and that he is Private 36317 John Gray, Royal Berkshires and therefore not this man Sergeant Jon Gray D.C.M.. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).We believe this to be the case because of the rank and regiment mentioned and because Pte. 36317 was also born in St Ippollitts. However, there are the remains of a family headstone in the churchyard at St Ippollytts which does relate to this John Gray, it reads: 

Acknowledgments

Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild