Edward John Gray

Story:
Edward John Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on the 14th August 1889 and baptised there on 6th September 1889, the son of Thomas Gray and Gertrude Eliza Gray (née Stokes).  He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in Shaftesbury.   He married Martha Sharp at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 31st May 1909 and they went on to have three children.  He had enlisted for Military Service on 22nd February 1913. The Absent Voters List for 1918 shows his address as 58 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and that he was a Private in the 25th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (Service No. 252230).  However other records, namely his pension record, show he had possibly transferred to the Army Pay Corps (Service No. 22339).  He was granted a limited pension due to aggravated gastric ulcers and his address was confirmed as 58 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury.  He was discharged on 3rd January 1919 being no long physically fit for service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B146974.  There are no other medal records.  The 1921 Census shows him at the same address working on his own account as a Boot and Shoe Dealer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Boot and Shoe Maker.   He died in Shaftesbury on 13th January 1966.