247134 Pte. Richard Gray British Army 11th Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.23rd April 1918) Richard Gray was born in Kensington about 1892, the third eldest of four sons of William Frederick and Sarah Gray. The 1901 census shows him living with his parents (aged 9) and three brothers Frederick (13), Albert (11) and William (4). His father was a horse keeper and his mother was a laundress. The 1911 census shows that he was a builder's labourer, living at home with his parents (aged 19) and brother Albert (20) and William (15) at 9 Nelson Place, The Steyne, Acton, London.
Richard served with the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He died on the 23rd of April 1918, aged 26 years and is buried in St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, Somme, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.
It is possible that Richard died of his wounds whilst receiving treatment in hospital. Amiens was recaptured from the Germans by the French on the 13 September 1914 and then remained in Allied hands for the duration of the War. It became a Hospital base and the 42nd Stationary Hospital was based there from October 1917 to March 1919. The Commonwealth plot in St. Pierre Cemetery was first used in September 1915 and closed in October 1919, but shortly afterwards 33 graves of 1918 were brought in from positions in or near the city.
His older brother Frederick was the first of the Gray brothers to die serving his Country, on 28 April 1915. His younger brother William died on 28 May 1918 less than a month after his own death. Tragically his parents lost 3 of their 4 sons to the War, it is not known if their brother Albert saw military service.
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