Name
Dick (Richard) Gray
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
S/5918
Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 46-48 and 50
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Kimpton Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Memorial, Kimpton, Not on the Codicote memorials, Not on the Welwyn memorials
Pre War
Richard Gray (known as Dick) was born in Kimpton in 1896 to Frederick and Annie Maria Gray, and baptised at St Peter and St Paul Church, Kimpton on 31 August. He was one of five children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in the High Street at Kimpton where his father was working as a baker and grocer. They had moved to 11 Walkern Road, Stevenage by 1911.
His parents later lived at High Street, Codicote, Welwyn, Herts.
Wartime Service
Richard was living in Holloway, Middx. when he enlisted as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade in London. After training he was sent to France on 22 Jul 1915.
The 2nd Rifles were engaged in the Autumn fighting on the Somme in 1916, the German Retreat to the Hindenberg Line, and in 1917 attacked Pilckem Ridge, Ypres on the opening day of 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). It was during this action that Dick was killed in action.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £12 10s and pay owing of £22 7s 10d. No pension appears to have been payable.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
