Edward (Ned) Gray
From Our Contribution
 Sunday Times 28 Jan 1917 page 8S | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1884 |
| Place of Birth | Newcastle, Northumberland, England |
| Age at Enlistment | 31 years, 1 month |
| Description |
5'11" (1.80m) tall ; 146 lbs 66.224 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Catherine Gray |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4278 |
| Date of Enlistment | 27 Aug 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 13th reinforcement transferred to 48th Battalion / 12th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jan 1916 ‒ 26 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A54 Runic |
| Date of Return | 22 Jul 1917 ‒ 13 Sep 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A71 Nestor |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 1 Sep 1916 Mouquet Farm Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1914 Mundijong, timber worker, with Catherine who moved to Frances street, West Perth after his enlistment.
War Service
After five weeks general training, Edward was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and travelled with them to Egypt, where on 2 Apr 1916 he was transferred to the 48th Battalion at Serapeum. On 2 Jun 1916 the 48th Battalion sailed for Marseilles aboard the HMT Caledonia, disembarking on 9 Jun 1916,
The 48th Battalion relieved the 13th Battalion in the front lines near Mouquet Farm on the night of 30 Aug / 1 Sep 1916. Edward was one of the casualties during the day when seven of his colleagues were KIA and 19 others, like himself wounded. Most injuries were caused by artillery shrapnel.
Edward's wound was a gunshot wound to right hand and he was treated first by the 44th Casualty Clearing Station on 3 Sep 1916. The next day he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and on 25 September to the 7th Convalescent Depot.
Edward rejoined his battalion on 9 Dec 1916. Admitted sick to hospital on 3 Feb 1917 (Trench Feet) and on 6 Feb 1917 he was embarked on HMHS Lanfranc for England where on 7 Feb 1917 he was admitted to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital.
On 22 Jul 1917 Edward embarked for return to Australia for a change, but on arrival in Perth he was discharged as permanently unfit by the 5th Military District on 3 Oct 1917.
Post War
Granted a pension for himself of 15/- per fortnight from 4 Oct 1917, and for Catherine, 7/6 per fortnight . A Sunday Times article describes him as being "Late of Mundijong".
Notes