Frank Gray

Story:
Frank Gray was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22 Sep 1889 the son of William Gray and Jane Gray (nee Hardiman).  He lived his early life in and around Compton Abbas.  He married Ann Sims at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1912 and they lived at 19 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted and joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Private (Service No. 105935).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows he had returned to 19 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, where he was described as a Carman for H. Hirst a local ironmonger. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 1 Tanyard Villas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as an Ironmonger's Carman.  His death was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, in 1964 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 19 Jun 1964.  His brother, Harry Gray, also served for a short time in the forces and survived.