William Elijah Gray

Story:
William Elijah Gray was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5 Sep 1894 and baptised there on 14 Oct 1894 the son of Henry William (sometimes William Henry) Gray and Rose Lavinia Gray (nee Stacey).  He lived most of his early life in and around Motcombe.  He enlisted and joined the 1/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1152) later becoming attached to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230465).  He served in Egypt and on his discharge on 27 Jun 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He married Vera Ada Louise Hooper at Corfe Castle, Dorset, on 22 Dec 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 34 Rockley Road, Poole, Dorset, working as a General Labourer.  He died in 1969 and was buried at Wareham, Dorset, on 14 Nov 1969.