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Private William Gray

 

William Gray was born on 20 February 1897 in the Coleraine Workhouse, County Londonderry, one of at least three children of domestic servant Fanny Gray. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Ballysally, Portstewart, with his step-father, grain miller James McLaughlin, his mother and one of his brothers, and working as an agricultural servant.

Gray enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 19 January 1918 (Corps of Hussars No.72024). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp until the end of the war.

On 4 February 1919 at Antrim Gray re-enlisted, in 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) (regimental number 33457 – later Army number 392016). He was discharged on 26 August 1922, his military character recorded as 'very good'.