Pelton Cemetery
19242 Private
W. Gray
Durham Light Infantry
14th May 1916.
William Kirby has submitted the following:-
William, born in 1883 at Pelton Fell, was the only son of Francis and Elizabeth Gray.
In 1901 the family were living at 10 Club Row, Pelton Fell. Francis was a Platelayer on the Railway and William was an apprentice Joiner.
Francis Gray died September 1907 aged 53 years. In 1911 William had been married but by then was a widower. He was living with his mother an aunt and four boarders at Pelton Fell. He was working at a local coal mine.
William, a Joiner was living at 13 Providence Street, Pelton Lane Ends when he enlisted 21st of September 1914 and joined the Durham Light Infantry. He embarked for France September 11th 1915.
He was wounded in the chest and it was discovered he had Tuberculous. His records state his wife had died from TB eight years previously. Complete cure was unlikely. He was discharged from the Army.
William died aged 34 years at home May 14th 1916.
Recipient of the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His mother, Elizabeth, died in October 1920 aged 72 years and was buried with William.
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 19/05/1916 reports:-
The funeral of Pte. W. Gray, of Pelton Lane Ends, took place at Pelton Cemetery on Wednesday with military honours. The deceased had been in hospital for some time, but died at his mother's home where he had lived recently. The Pelton Colliery band was in attendance, with a firing party and a mounted detachment of the Denbigh Hussars. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. C.F.B. Haslewood assisted by the Rev. M. Martin
William Gray is remembered at Pelton on P26.01
He is not listed in the DLI Book of Remembrance.
