Sgt 16414 Albert Edward Henry Gray

• Age: 30
• From: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 31st August 1916
• Commemorated at: St Marie Cem Le Havre
  Panel Ref: Div 3.E.7

Albert Edward Henry Gray was born on the 24th December 1885, in New Ferry, Cheshire, the eldest son of Henry (Harry) Gray and his wife Clara (née Crisp). His parents married in 1883 in the Wirral and had six children.  Albert had an older sister Ada Mary, and younger siblings Lottie Sophia, Charles William, Lilian Florence, and Harry James. He was baptised on 28th February 1886.

The 1911 Census shows Albert living with his family at 35 Winstanley Road, New Ferry. His father, Henry, is aged 56, is a teacher of physical culture, whilst his mother, Clara is aged 45, was born in 1866 in Long Stanton, Cambridgeshire. They have been married for 28 years and have had six children. Four of their children are in the household; Albert aged 25, is a soap cutter, Charlie aged 21, born 1890 is a cotton porter, Lilian aged 15, born 1896 is a scent packer and Harry aged 13, was born in 1898.

Albert married Ellen Buckley on the 03^rd February, 1913 at St Mark’s Church, New Ferry. At his marriage he is shown as Albert Henry. They had a son Robert Douglas born 06^th September, 1913. His son’s baptism record shows Albert’s middle name as Edward. 

He enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on the 01^st September, 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was aged 27 years and 250 days and gave his occupation as soap-maker. He had been an apprentice at Lever Brothers and this expired in 1905. He was five feet eleven and three quarter inches tall, weighed 170lbs, sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service record shows the following:

13.03.15: Appointed paid Lance Corporal.

14.03.15: Promoted to Corporal.

31.03.15: Appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant.

07.04.15: Appointed paid Lance Sergeant.

16.10.15: Promoted to Sergeant 

He arrived in France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

Albert was serving in the 18th Battalion, as Sergeant when he was wounded in action on 8th July 1916, suffering a gunshot wound to the thigh.  He was admitted to 96th Field Ambulance, then to No.5 Casualty Clearing Station, and to 2nd Stationary Hospital on the 11th.  On the 14th his condition was reported as “not very satisfactory”.  His wife requested permission to see him on the 28th as by then Albert was “dangerously ill”. His wife and father were given travel warrants via Southampton, left Rock Ferry by train on 17th August and visited Albert, by then in No.2 General Hospital, Le Havre, on the 18th.  Albert died of his wounds at 7:50 a.m. on 31st August 1916.

He now rests at St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France where his headstone reads:

“BELOVED HUSBAND OF ELLEN GRAY NEW FERRY, CHESHIRE”

During the First World War, Le Havre was one of the ports at which the British Expeditionary Force disembarked in August 1914. Except for a short interval during the German advance in 1914, it remained No.1 Base throughout the war and by the end of May 1917, it contained three general and two stationary hospitals, and four convalescent depots.

The first Commonwealth burials took place in Division 14 of Ste Marie Cemetery in mid August 1914. Burials in Divisions 19, 3, 62 and 64 followed successively.

A memorial in Plot 62 marks the graves of 24 casualties from the hospital ship 'Salta' and her patrol boat, sunk by a mine on 10 April 1917. The memorial also commemorates by name the soldiers, nurses and merchant seamen lost from the 'Salta' whose bodies were not recovered, and those lost in the sinking of the hospital ship 'Galeka' (mined on 28 October 1916) and the transport ship 'Normandy' (torpedoed on 25 January 1918), whose graves are not known.

There are now 1,690 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in this cemetery, 8 of which are unidentified.

His wife Ellen was awarded a pension of 16s a week for herself and child from the 05^th March 1917.

He earned his three medals, which Nellie signed for.

We currently have no further information on Albert Edward Gray, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.