Name
Daniel Charles Gray
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1915
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7291
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 & 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Essendon War Memorial, Roll of Honour, St Mary's Church, Essendon, Not on the Tewin memorials
Pre War
Daniel Charles Gray was born in 1886, at Queen Hoo Hall Farm, Tewin, Herts, the son of Arthur Gray and his first wife Augusta Gray. He was baptised on 3 October 1886 in Bramfield, Herts. He was one of six children but also had four half siblings from his father's second marriage.
The 1891 census shows Daniel aged 4 years living with his Aunt and Uncle, Christopher and Emily Haines at Bacons Farm, Bramfield Village, Bramfield, Herts.
His mother Augusta died in 1892 (probably following the birth of his sister Kate).
His father remarried on 5 March 1894 at St Peter's Church, Tewin, to Emily Wearhead. They had another four children.
Although his father, stepmother and siblings were still living at Queen Hoo Hall Farm, Tewin, where his father was the Farmer, the 1901 census shows Daniel aged 14 years living with his employer at Bell Bar, Water End, North Mymms, Herts. His occupation was given as a house boy / domestic servant. He later lived in Essendon. No details have yet been found in the 1911 Census.
Wartime Service
Daniel enlisted in Hertford and served in the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 11 November 1914.
He was killed in action on 21 April 1915 during the Battle for Hill 60. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Additional Information
His stepmother Emily Gray received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £10 9s.
His half-brother William Gray died 5 days later on the 26 April 1915 and another half-brother, Arthur Charles Gray died on 22 March 1917.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue and Colin Rees, Stuart Osborne,
