Bertie Gray

Story:
Bertie Gray was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1877, the son of Thomas Gray and Martha Gray (née Wright).  He lived all his early life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area.  He had enlisted about 1898 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No.5749) and served with them in South Africa and continued into WW1 serving in the Asiatic Theatre from 6 Nov 1914 with the 2nd Battalion.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. He had remained in the Army and was finally discharged in Feb 1930 but was allowed to live in the barracks in Dorchester. On his death he was given a full military funeral at Dorchester Cemetery, with Last Post and Reveille being played, on 24 Sep 1930 and so honoured by being recognised as the longest serving soldier in the Regiment at the time with 32 years in the Colours (Western Gazette 26 Sep 1930).  His death is recorded at the Dorchester, Dorset, Registry in 1930.