More about John Gray

John Gray was the son of Mr John and Mrs Janet Gray of Greenwell, Gauldry, Wormit, Fife and worked as a Gardener. On the 1st of November 1915 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn in Dundee for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to the RND Depot at Blandford Camp in Dorset on early January 1916. In May he was drafted to the 2nd Drake Battalion being formed in Blandford. Manpower shortages meant that the 2nd was disbanded and he sailed for France in July. At the Etaples Base Depot it seems he was posted to the 8th Entrenching Battalion where he served until March 1917 when he finally reached the Drake Battalion. He fought with the Battalion in the Gavrelle battles and was granted 10 days home leave in September. In October he was admitted to several hospitals suffered from an ulcer on his leg. He remained in hospital or convalescence until March 1918. He died from wounds caused by gas later that month. John Gray is buried in the Rocquigny-Equincourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt grave reference X.C. 25 and is commemorated on the Balmerino Memorial.