Born in 1882 at Wangford in Suffolk, son of James and Annie Gray. His father is believed to have died in 1889, because the 1891 Census shows Annie as a widow. That year the family was living at 1 Shepherds Cottage, Horn Lane, Woodford Green and James was a Scholar. On leaving school he took a position with the Woodford Green Post Office. 1901: A Postman, still living with his family, but now at 4 Ingatestone Road, Woodford Green. In 1908 he married Wanstead born Ellen Sophia Green. 1911: Still a Postman, living with his wife (who he recorded as Helen), at 3 Kirkley Villas, Walpole Road, South Woodford. He was reputed to have a cheery disposition.
He joined the Army in May 1916 and was sent to France in October 1916, but during four of the six months he served there he was confined to hospital.
Easter Monday 9th April 1917 saw the start of the Battle of Arras - The First Battle of the Scarpe. The Battalion left the Museum at Arras at 02.40 and moved to attack positions in “T” Trench, Support Lines and Ink Trench. Some casualties resulted from this movement, because the Germans had the range and location of the communication trench. At 10.20 9 Essex began advancing and initially did well until heavy machine gun fire from Hotte Work and Tilloy impeded the advance and inflicted more casualties. 2Lt Barker and his platoon moved to the flank and bombed the Hotte Work position into submission, capturing 30 of the defenders. This enabled the advance to continue. “C” Company managed to capture Fenchy Chapel Redoubt in what turned out to the best day for the allies during the Battle of Arras.
James Gray was reported to have been killed by machine gun fire during this advance.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Woodford Times
Regimental History