George Henry Gray
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was the son of Albert Edward and Mary (known as Polly) Gray (née Barker). His father was born in Willington, Derbyshire, in about 1867 and his mother Polly Barker in Sheffield in about 1869. Albert (23) and Mary (21) were married at Eckington SS Peter & Paul on 13 October 1890, both were living in Mosbrough; Mary signed the marriage register with 'her mark.' Albert and Polly had nine children: Jessie B. (who may have been registered as 'Barker'); John Abraham bap. Mosborough St Mark August 1891; George Henry bap. St Mark 12 June 1893; Nellie bap. St Mark July 1895 and Willis b. 1897 who were born in Derbyshire/Yorkshire, Susannah b. Ilkeston Derbyshire birth reg. 1900 (J/F/M) bap. Ilkeston St Mary February 1900 and Ethel birth registered. 1908 (J/F/M), Florence Amy birth registered 1907 (J/F/M) d. 1907 and Rose (Rosy) birth reg. 1910 (J/F/M) who were born in Nottinghamshire, probably in Arnold. In 1891 Albert, a labourer, and Polly were living with his parents, John and Sarah Gray, in Eckington. Their daughter Jessie, who may have been born c. 1889, has not yet been traced on the census. Polly later moved to 5 Simpkins Yard, Bond Street, Arnold. However, by 1901 the couple and their six children, Jessie, John, George, Nellie, Willie and Susannah, were living at 12 Canal Side, Ilkeston. Albert was now working as a stallman below ground ('coal pit'). Albert died in 1910 (reg. A/M/J Basford) and in 1911 his widow was recorded on the Census living on Wood Street, Arnold, with her eight children, Jessie a hosiery winder, John a general labourer, George a colliery horse keeper, Nellie a hosiery mender, Willis, Susannah, Ethel and Rosy. Also in the home were Polly's two grandsons, Albert Arthur Barker (b. 1907) and Ernest Barker (b. 1910); the birth registrations gave their mother's maiden surname as Barker and it is probable that both were the sons of Polly's daughter, Jessie. (See Albert was killed in the Second World War (see 'Extra information'). George's brother, Willis, served in the Manchester Regiment in the war (89634). He was then working as a bottler and living with his mother at 7 Simpkins Yard, Bond Street, Arnold. His army service record has a note that he was allowed to count former service in the Loyal Defence Corps to count toward his service in the Manchester Regiment; he served from 7 September 1914 including the BEF France 16 December 1915-21 April 1918 (wounded October 1916). He was discharged from the army, 'no longer physically fit for war service', on 24 October 1919. Willis's home address was Hawick, Scotland where he had married May A Yeoman in May 1919.
George enlisted in the Army (probably as a regular soldier). The family lived at 5 Simpkins Yard, Bond Street, Arnold, Nottinghamshire. George was killed in action on 20 September 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. CWGC - History of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial (extract): the Memorial 'commemorates 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves.' (www.cwgc.org) ‘The 2nd Foresters had served in India 1882-1898,’ writes John Cotterill, ‘returning home in 1902 via garrison duty in Aden and Malta. They led a peripatetic life in the UK serving on the Isle of Wight, in Aldershot, in various small garrisons in Ireland, in Plymouth and railway strike breaking in Derby in 1911 before arriving at Hillsborough Barracks in Sheffield in 1912. Here they mobilised 4/8/14 as part of 18 Brigade in 6 Division. As with most home based units they were under strength in peacetime so were composed of 40% reservists on mobilisation. Initially only four divisions were sent over the channel with 4th and 6th Divisions held back on coastal defence duties. As the threat of an early German invasion receded these two remaining divisions were deployed with 2nd Foresters, 930 men strong, arrived in St Nazaire on 11 Sept 1914. By this time the retreat from Mons was over and, indeed, on 12 Sept 1914 the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) began its advance from the River Marne to battle on the River Aisne.’ 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (71st Bde, 6th Division) mobilised 4/8/1914 and disembarked at St Nazaire on September 11th. Hough was killed during the battalion’s first Great War action in the Aisne valley which the BEF needed to cross before attempting to take the strategically commanding Chemin des Dames high ground. On September 20th, they were in reserve north of Troyon. As other British units fell back, according to John Cotterill, ‘a request for help reached the 2nd Foresters... at 1400.’ first by A and C Coys led by Captains Parkinson and Popham, reinforced by ‘B’ and ‘D’’ Coys with most of the Westphalians fleeing before the Foresters’ bayonets.’ The unit war diary (TNA WO95/1616/3/1) records the dramatic action: ‘the enemy were seen to have taken trenches on the right of the British line on the ridge at the head of the Troyon Valley – the most vital point in the line of defence. The battalion moved out to re-take the trenches. A German column was seen to be marching off prisoners...The advance was met by a very heavy machine gun fire from the front and left flank which caused many casualties, the ground being devoid of cover and very cramped... a general advance was made with great dash and in spite of heavy losses the trenches were re-taken. The battalion then prepared to hold the trenches... This was a most important action as the safety of the British right and the bridge over the R. Aisne at Bourg depended on the maintenance of the trenches. All ranks behaved splendidly.’ The war diary estimated 180 2nd Bn casualties in the action of 20th September 1914. 49 men from the unit, including 24 commemorated on this website, were killed that day (CWGC Debt of Honour Register). 38 of these dead have no known grave and are commemorated on the Le Ferte-sous-Jouarre memorial to the missing and the remaining 11 are divided between cemeteries at Chauny, Sissone and Vendresse. Military Research by David Nunn and John Cotterill
CWGC 001107753: 5044802 Cpl Albert Arthur Barker 2nd. Bn North Staffs Regiment, date of death 30 April 1943. Buried Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery Tunisia (5.F.16). Son of Jessie Barker, husband of Violet Alice Mary Elizabeth Barker [m. 1928] of Daybrook, Nottingham. WW1 Allies Collection: Albert Arthur Barker b. 1908. CWGC: 'Son of Albert and Polly Gray, of 5, Simpkins Yard, Bond St., Arnold, Notts.'
