Arthur Gray was
born in Burnley. He enlisted in Burnley and served as Private 105629 in
the 9th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment having formerly
served as Private 94436 in the Manchester Regiment. He was killed in action
on Wednesday 26th August 1918 and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois
Memorial Panel 3 and 4.
Cousins Fall
on Consecutive Days. ( Burnley Express 21st September 1918 )
Mrs Gray, of 48, Lindsay Street, Burnley, has received
news of the death in action of her son, Pte. (105629) Arthur Gray of the
King’s Liverpool Regt. Three letters have been received by Mrs Gray
extending the sympathy of the writers and relating how her son fell.
The regimental chaplain (the Rev. D Fisher) stated that Pte. Gray was
killed in the advance on August 28th. “Officers and men alike”,
he wrote, “join me in their expressions of sorrow. Of course, we
cannot understand your grief, but Christ does, and we just ask Him to
help you in your time of need and to make you realise that your son is
safe with him in Paradise.”
Pte. Walter Westhead wrote from France that Pte. Gray was very cheerful
to the last and death was instantaneous. C.S.M. H Cameron, who is now
in an Aberdeen Hospital, wounded, also confirms the soldier’s death,
and forwards his wallet on to the widowed mother.
Pte Gray who was only eighteen years of age, joined up last January, and
was one of the large number of young soldiers sent to France during the
summer, and of whom the Premier spoke with glowing terms for their brilliant
work in holding up the German advance. He was a warp dyer at Messrs. Lee’s
works, and was in St Catherine’s Scout Troop. There will be a memorial
service at St. Catherine’s Church tomorrow.
A sad co-incidence is that Pte. Gray’s cousin, Pte R.H. Redman,
of 10, Hobart Street, was killed on the day following, and his photo appeared
in last Wednesday’s ‘Express’. Pte. Gray has a brother
discharged from the Army, and a brother in law who has been wounded and
is in a Canadian Hospital, is expecting his discharge.”
In the Burnley
Express Roll of Honour for Sept 21st 1918 he was remembered by “Sweetheart
Annie”.
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