Frederick James Gray

Story:
Frederick James Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 19th July 1888 and baptised there on 16th September 1888, the son of William Gray and Mary Jane Gray (nee Rogers).  His early life is recorded in the Semley Workhouse (by then living accommodation) until the 1911 Census when he is shown as working as a Gardener at Buscot House, Farringdon, Berkshire.  By 1913 he had moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, and married Elizabeth Anne Haskell on 29th July 1913 at St. Osmond's Church, Salisbury.  They appear to have had only one child.   Frederick enlisted on 6th December 1915 but was not embodied until 29th May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 91304).  He served with various units in France from 5 Sep 1917 including the 185th Siege Battery and ended his service at the Rhine Army Control Camp, Germany.  He was finally demobilized on 4th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him working as a Licensed Publican at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, The Borough, Downton, Wiltshire, a tied house owned by Asher Wiltshire Brewery. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 26 Mitford Street, Salisbury, described as a Restaurant Proprietor.  He later moved to 73 Downton Road, Salisbury where he died on 6 Oct 1944.

Frederick's brother, Ernest William, also served in the war but was sadly killed in 1917 while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment in France.