Robert Roy Gray

Story:
Robert Roy Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised at St. James' Church on 26th July 1868, the son of George Gray and Hannah Elizabeth Gray (née Wright).  (A previous child called Robert had been born in January 1867 but had not survived.)  Robert married Alice Louisa Brickell at St. James' Church on 14th July 1888 and they went on to have eleven children, one of whom, Frederick Percival Gray (b. 1896), was killed at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915.   Robert had had previous experience with the Dorset Yeomanry.  He enlisted on 18th April 1918 but was not mobilized until 6th September 1918 when he joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54998).  He was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment from 5th December 1918 until his discharge on 24th January 1919 (Service No. 69393).  He had served in Ireland and there are no records of any medals being awarded.   By the time of the 1939 Register, Robert was living as a widower at 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Retired Builder's Labourer.  He died locally in 1946.