Percy Gray

Story:
Percy Gray was born on 5th May 1884 at Motcombe, Dorset, and baptised there on 15th June 1884, the son of Benjamin Gray and Susan Pearce Gray (née Smith). The 1901 Census shows him living with the family at 53 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but by 1911 he had moved to 11 Moorfield Road, Portland, Dorset. During those intervening years he had served the Territorial Unit of the Hampshire Regiment from 3rd January 1903 until 2 Jan 1911 when he had been transferred to the Reserves.  During this early phase he had served in Malta, Bermuda and South Africa gaining at least four good conduct badges.   On the outbreak of WW1 he was embodied on 5th August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as an Acting Corporal (Service No. 6722). He was posted to France on 27 Aug 1914 where he received gunshot wounds to the chest and he was discharged on 2nd January 1916, having been deemed unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. During 1916 he married Hughina Livingstone Asher in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registration District. There were two children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woodcroft Cottages, Brambridge, Winchester, Hampshire, and was working as a Private Chauffeur.   His death was registered in the Winchester, Hampshire, Registry in 1949.  His brother, Victor Pearce Gray, also served and survived the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.