Albert Samuel Gay

Story:
Albert Samuel Gay was born in Axminster, Devon, on 23 Mar 1885 the son of George Edward Gay and Mary Ann Gay (nee Searle).  He lived his early life in Axminster.   He married Martha Bessie Follett in Bridport, Dorset, on 20 May 1907 and set up home at Bowden, Kington Magna, Dorset.  His father had died in 1908. By 1911 Albert was still living in Kington Magna and had enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 12580).  On embodiment he transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry and, in time, had been promoted to Sergeant (Service No. 15010).  He served with the 8th Battalion in France and Flanders from 8 Sep 1915 where he was killed in action on 23 Apr 1917.   He has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, (Bay 4) as well as on the Kington Magna War Memorial.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  (NB. His name also appears on the Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, War Memorial on a plaque which is thought to have come from Kington Magna.) His wife had received a pension plus an allowance for her two children.