Hubert Gray
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Hubert was the son of Tom and Jessie Gray (née Roberts). His father Tom was born in Sturton-en-le-Steeple, Nottinghamshire, in 1863, the son of John Gray, a farmer, and his wife Sarah. In 1881 Tom and his sister Elizabeth were living in East Retford with their widowed aunt, Harriet Haxby (née Barlow), who was managing her late husband George's rope making business which employed one man and one boy, one of whom was probably Tom. His mother Jessie Roberts was born in Worksop in 1861. Tom and Jessie were married in 1888 and had two sons who were both born in Worksop, Hubert b. 1891 and John Francis b. 1894. In 1891 Tom, Jessie and their infant son Hubert were living at 5 Eastgate, Worksop. Jessie died at Worksop on 2 September 1899 aged 37. Probate of her estate was awarded in June 1921 to her husband, a rope maker's assistant. Tom married secondly Gertrude Hindley at Worksop St Mary (Priory) in May 1900. Gertrude was born at Worksop in 1877 (reg. J/F/M bap. Worksop St Mary March 1877), the daughter of Roland and Hannah Hindley. Tom and Gertrude had one child before 1911 who died young and a daughter, Barbara Ancilla, in February 1918. In 1901 Tom, now employed as a rope maker's manager, Gertrude and his two sons were living at 12 Carlton Road, Worksop. The family had moved to 44 Ryton Street, Worksop, by 1911. Hubert was a boiler maker's apprentice and John a junior railway clerk (Great Central Railway). Gertrude died on 14 June 1918, four months after the birth of her daughter Barbara. The family home was still at 44 Ryton Street. Probate was awarded to her husband. Tom completed a form for the army in 1919 listing his son's surviving blood relatives. These were his father and half-sister Barbara, both of 44 Ryton Street, and his brother John Francis who was still serving in the Army in Hampshire. Tom Gray married Agnes Simons in 1921. At the time of the 1921 Census they were living in Worksop with Tom's daughter Barbara and also Herbert Gilleard Simons (adopted son of Robert & Annie Simons), his second wife Bertha Mary (née Fletcher m. 1912 Worksop), their two sons Reginald and Archie, and his daughter Edith Rose (b. 1910) by his first marriage to Edith Spencer (m. 1909 d. 1910). Tom Gray died on 28 February 1929; the probate record gave his address as 8 Watson Road, Worksop. Probate was awarded to his widow Agnes and Arthur Hindley a retired greengrocer. Hubert's half-sister, Barbara, was living in Worksop with her stepmother, Agnes Gray (d. 1948), when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Hubert's brother, John Francis, served with the 11th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and later with the 7th Northumberland Fusliers attd. 43rd Garrison Bn Royal Fusliers Regiment. He achieved the rank of sergeant before gaining a commission (second lieutenant) on 21 November 1918. He served in France from 27 August 1915 and qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. John applied for his medals after the war and gave addresses in Worksop.
7th (Service) Battalion The Prince of Wales' (North Staffordshire Regiment) The 7th (Service) Battalion was a battalion of Kitchener's New Armies, formed at Lichfield in August 1914. It sailed from Avonmouth in June 1915 for Gallipoli (July 1915) but was evacuated to Egypt in January 1916, moving to Mesopotamia in the February. Hubert Gray attested on 11 December 1915 and transferred to the Army Reserve the same day. He was mobilised on 2 May 1916 and posted initially to the Sherwood Foresters but then transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment. He joined the 3rd Bn at Wallsend on 5 May, then served at Forest Hall from 2 June 1916. Hubert was appinted acting lance corporal on 13 May 1916, to paid lance corporal on 3 August and acting corporal on 22 August. He reverted to unpaid lance corporal in December 1916. Hubert army service was calculated from 11 December 1915 and he served at home until posted for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Mesopotamia). He embarked at Devonport on 15 October 1916 and disembarked at Basra (date illegible), joining in the field in the December. Hubert was killed in action on 15 January 1917, probably during the offensive to capture Baghdad. The offensive began in December 1916 with the British forces advancing up both sides of the river Tigris. The city was taken in March 1917. Hubert is buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq (formerly Mesopotamia); grave ref. XXIV C21. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Amara War Cemetery (extract): Amara is a town on the left bank of the Tigris some 520km from the sea. 'Whilst the current climate of political instability persists it is extremely challenging for the Commission to manage or maintain its cemeteries and memorials located within Iraq. Alternative arrangements for commemoration have therefore been implemented and a two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced. These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view.' (www.cwgc.org, 2022)
Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 9 September 1899: ‘Gray. On 2nd Sept. at Worksop, Jessie Gray, aged 37 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Corpl. Hubert Gray Worksop Guardian 2 February 1917 'On Monday morning, the distressing news reached Mr Tom Gray of 44 Ryton Street, Worksop, that his eldest son, Corpl. Hubert Gray, had been killed in action in Mesopotamia on January 15th. The news was sent officially from the War Office and it was accompanied by the usual letter of sympathy from His Majesty the King. Corpl Gray who would have been 25 in May, was a very smart soldier standing six feet. He was born in Worksop, a scholar at the Wesley schools and afterwards apprenticed to engineering with the late Mr Thomas Flamwell junr., and subsequently Mr F W Shotton. Their successor for whom he worked for at the time of his enlistment. Previous to joining the Army he was a most enthusiastic member of the Boy Scout movement and was assistant scoutmaster of the St John Troop under Mr Cecil Hall. He was a regular attender at St John’s Church and a member of the C.E.M.S. In company with several other Worksop lads, he enlisted in the Notts and Derbys in May 1916 but they were soon transferred to the 3rd North Staffords and sent to Forest Hall, Northumberland for training. Here his scout training evidently proved of use as he got his first stripe in ten days and about six weeks later he was promoted to full Corporal, a very remarkable example of quick promotion. He was keenly desirous of going to the war, but the authorities deemed him of more utility at home as an instructor of recruits and for a considerable time had to be satisfied with the home service. At length however, his desire came about and being transferred to the 7th North Staffords he was drafted to Mesopotamia last September where he unfortunately met his death as stated. No details are to hand as to the nature of his death but it is suspected that letters may be received from some of his comrades any day. Only last week his step-mother, to whom he was much attached, had two letters from him in one of which he stated that he had met his old comrade who enlisted with him. Pte ‘Billy’ Hall, son of Mr and Mrs G Hall of Carlton House, Worksop, and saying how delighted they were to see each other. Pte Hall having gone out some time before him from Forest Hall. whilst here he proved a most able instructor, and the men regarded him very highly. His death will be deeply deplored by many friends in Worksop. His brother, Lance-Corpl. John F Gray, of the Notts and Derby also has had an adventurous time. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of war and has been wounded twice. He contracted septic poisoning and was sent home to Yeovil Hospital but soon recovered and went back to the front. He then had his knee cap knocked off, but it was put right in the field hospital and was soon again in the trenches. About five months ago he was very seriously injured in the left thigh by shrapnel and he is now in Sunderland. Lance-Corpl. John Gray, before enlistment, was in the G C Railway Goods Office at Worksop. He is 22 years of age. The father of the two lads, Mr Tom Gray is very well known in the district as a rope maker.' Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 6 February 1917: ’Sturton-en-le-Steeple. Soldier’s Death in Mesopotamia. The sad news was received on Monday by Mr and Mrs Tom Gray, 44 Ryton-street, Worksop, that their eldest son, Corpl. Hubert Gray, North Staffs, Regt., had been killed in action on Jan. 15th while serving with the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Forces at Kut-el-Amara. Corpl. Gray would have attained the age of 25 years next March. Mr and Mrs Gray’s second son, Pte John F Gray, is also in the army. Mr Tom Gray is well-known. He is brother to Mr WB Gray of Stokeham and his sister, Mrs Goacher, resides at Sturton-en-le Steeple, where Mr Tom Gray was born. There are other sisters and a brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother (sic), Gertrude Gray, was his legatee. Hubert had made a Soldiers' Will in her favour: Copy of Will: typed document marked ‘Certified true copy’: ‘In the event of my death I give the whole of Property and Effects to my Mother. Mrs Gertrude Gray, 44 Pyton (sic) Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. [Signed] Hubert Gray 24853 Cpl 7th N. Staffs. Reg. October 14th, 1916’ Hubert's private property was returned to Gertrude in July 1917 and comprised a badge, letters, photos, cards and a religious book, although there is correspondence (largely illegible) in Hubert's service record in which Gertrude was enquiring about other items of personal property including letters which had been written to him in Mesopotamia by the family. Research by Colin Dannatt
