Sidney Frederick Gray

Story:
Sidney Frederick Gray was born in 1892 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury on 25th December 1892.  He was the son of Thomas John Gray, a Carter, and Elizabeth Gray née Gumbleton.   Sidney's father had died in 1900 and by 1901 the family were living in the Shaftesbury Workhouse in Breach Lane. Elizabeth was described as a “Washerwoman and Inmate of the Workhouse”.   By 1911 Sidney was single and working as a House Servant in Portland Place in London whilst his mother was still in the workhouse. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private with the 5^th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10661). He served in the Balkans from 11 Jul 1915 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. (NB The medals were returned to his Regiment as they could not be delivered.)  He died at Gallipoli, Turkey, on 27^th August 1915 just over a month since he arrived in the field.    His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Turkey, (Panel 137 to 140) and also on the War Memorial at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury.