Name
Arthur Bray
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
11039
Royal Hampshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 7C and 7B.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Arthur Henry Thomas and Rose (nee RYDER) BRAY.
His parents married 3 June 1893 at St Lawrence’s, Bovingdon, Herts. Rose died 1930 in Watford aged 59, and was buried 27 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Arthur died 1933 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 3 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
An Arthur Walter Jackson was born 1894 in Watford, though an Arthur Claude Jackson was baptised 29 April 1894 at St Lawrence’s, Bovingdon, born 11 March 1894. He attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 7 January 1901 to 12 March 1908. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment aged 18, he was stationed at Maida Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Hants.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Gosport, Hants; was entitled to the Victory and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 27 December 1914, and was presumed killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Arthur’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a photograph of Arthur with caption in the Watford Illustrated dated 21 August 1915. Also, a brief article and a Death announcement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 11 November 1916; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 28 June 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
