More about Peter Gray

Peter Gray   CZ/5811   Hood Bn   R.N.D.

GRAY—Killed in action, on 10th August, A.B. Seaman Peter Gray, R.N.D., aged 21 years beloved son of Mrs Slaven and the late Peter Gray, 85 Princess Street.

Dundee People’s Journal 1st September 1917

Pte. Peter Daw, Gordon Highlanders, and A.B. Peter Gray, R.N.V.R. (killed) were chums at school together, and when war broke out Pte. Daw enlisted in the Gordons.  The death of his father prevented Gray joining up with his chum, but in August, 1915, he enlisted in the R.N.V.R.  Pte. Daw, whose home was at 112 Cowgate, had been three times previously wounded, and lost the sight of his right eye at the battle of Loos; while A.B. Gray, who resided at 65 Princess St. had been twice wounded.  Both were members of the Panmure Gymnastic Association, and took a great interest in gymnastics in the city.

Dundee People’s Journal 8th September 1917

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Peter Gray was employed as a Labourer when, in August 1915, he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. He was the son of Mr Peter Gray and Mrs Mary Ann Gray (later Slaven) of 83 Princes Street, Dundee and had a brother Tommy and a sister Jeanie. After initial Naval training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was transferred to the RND Depot at Blandford Camp in Dorset in October. In December he was drafted to the Hood Battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula and his ship arrived in Alexandria at the end of the month. By this time the evacuation from Gallipoli had started and he was kept in Egypt until this was completed. He reached the Hood in January 1916 and served with the Battalion undertaking Garrison duties in the Aegean Islands. In May the Battalion sailed for France, arriving in Marseille and entraining for the Western Front. After training in Army tactics the RND began to experience the war on the Western Front and was being prepared to join in the Somme battle. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the RND. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very long and over 30 local men were killed and countless more wounded. Peter Gray received a gunshot wound in the attack and was hospitalised in France. He rejoined the Hood in late December. In February 1917 he was again hospitalised, this time, with severe influenza and pediculosis. In June he returned to the Battalion but was wounded again after two days. He returned to the Hood on 8 August and was killed in action two days later. Peter Gray is buried in the Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blagney, Northern Rance, Grave reference I-O-5.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie