Sidney Charles Gray

Story:
Sidney Charles Gray was born in 1890 in Shaftesbury and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 31st August, 1890. He was the son of John Gray, an agricultural labourer, and Linda Louisa Gray (nee Jenkins). His siblings included Harry, (b.1898), who also died in the war and Frank (b. 1895) who served in the Royal Navy until discharged in 1945. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Mason's Labourer and living in Enmore Green. He had enlisted as a Territorial Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 298) and was later called up for duty with the 1/4th Battalion (New Service No. 200156). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory, British War and Territorial Forces War medals. He died on 28th September 1917 and his name appears on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq (Panel 22 & 63). He is remembered on the Park Walk, Enmore Green and St. James' war memorials in Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the Motcombe War Memorial, on the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church, on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.