Name
Hugh Gardiner Gray
1 Dec 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/10/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G18149
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Willian War Memorial
Pre War
Hugh Gardiner Gray was born in Saffron Walden on 1 Dec 1891 (baptised 27 Dec 1891 to Thomas James Gray, and Elizabeth (nee Gardiner).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Hugh G and Reginald E (both Grocer’s assistants) were living at the Green, Willian, Letchworth.
.
Wartime Service
Hugh attested on 11 Dec 1915 and placed on Army Reserve until 23 Mar 1916 when he was mobilised as Private 2561 in the Suffolk Yeomanry. On 17 Aug 1916 he posted to 1/4 (Suffolk Regiment). He embarked for France from Folkestone on 27 Aug 1916 arriving in Boulogne at 15 Infantry Base Depot the same day.
He was posted on 28 Aug 1916 to 1/4 Reserve Batt Royal West Kent Regiment, then 7 Battalion RWK on 7 Sep 1916 part of 35 Brigade 12 (Eastern) Division and involved in the Somme fighting. His first experience of a major Battle was probably the Battle of the Ancre Heights, (1 Oct – 11 Nov 1916). Hugh was reported Missing during this action and his was presumed to be 29 Oct 16. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 6s 4d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
