Walter James Dredge

Story:
Walter James Dredge was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 28 May 1893 and baptised at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on 20 Jun 1894 the son of Clara Dredge.  Clara had married Walter Gray about 1894 and Walter James Dredge was adopted by him and became known thereafter as Walter James Gray.  By 1901 the family were living in Watery Lane, Donhead St. Mary, until they moved to Roydon, Essex.  Walter James Gray enlisted on 31 Aug 1914 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No. 95064).  He was attached to the B/69 Battery and from 26 Jun 1915 served successively in the Balkans, Egypt, Mesopotamia and, from 10 Jul 1917, in India where he was sent having suffered a gunshot wound to the right leg as well as having dysentery.  He was finally discharged on 18 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  On his discharge he moved to Ponders End, Middlesex.  He married May Doreen Phillips at St. Matthews Church, Enfield, Middlesex, on 22 Aug 1920.  They went on to have eleven children.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 241 High Street, Ponders End, Enfield, Middlesex, working as a carman for a local baker. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 50 Brinsdown Road, Enfield, Middlesex working as a Public Works Labourer.   His death was recorded in Enfield on 15 Feb 1965.   His brother, Frederick George Dredge (Gray), also served in the conflict and had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in France and Flanders.