Bridge of Weir
Memorial

CAPT JOHN GRAY 5^TH A.&.S.H.

Captain John Gray

5th Battalion attached 2nd
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

killed in action 21st September 1918

aged 27

Domino British Cemetery, Epehy
St Machar's Church Memorial
Ranfurly Castle Golf Club Memorial
Glasgow Academy Memorial
University of Glasgow Memorial

Son of John Gray and Amelia Hopper
Airlie, Bridge of Weir

His Life

John Gray was born about 1891 in England, the youngest of a family of three born to John Gray, a Burma rice merchant from Paisley, and Amelia Elizabeth Hopper from Gillingham, Kent, who had married in Rangoon, Burma on 7th May 1887. John was 40 and Amelia 24.

In 1891 Amelia (28), and her two young daughters Marguerite and Isabella who had been born in Rangoon, Burma, were living in Gravesend, Kent with Amelia's aunt Rebecca Hopper.

By 1901 John Gray (54) had retired and was living with his family in Airlie, a 13-roomed house in Prieston Road, Bridge of Weir. They employed a domestic servant Christina McDougall (25) from Islay.

John's mother Amelia died in 1908 at the age of 45, when John was 16.

In 1911, John Gray senior, widower, and his family were still living in Airlie. John junior (19) was a law apprentice, and there were two domestic servants; Jessie Urquhart from Gairloch and Evelyn Duff from Glasgow, both 28.

John took Scots Law and Conveyancing classes at Glasgow University from 1911 to 1913, and was an apprentice in McLay, Murray and Spens, writers and solicitors in Glasgow. He was in the Territorials and enlisted as a private in the 9th H.L.I. when the war began, and received his commission in the 5th (Territorial) Argylls in November 1914. The 5th Argylls served in Gallipoli from July 1915 and Egypt from 1916 until April 1918, taking part in Allenby's successful campaign in Palestine. John Gray was promoted to Captain, but reverted to Lieutenant when was transferred to France on 22nd April 1918. He was attached to 2nd Battalion of the Argylls, which formed part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. The Divisional history lists his name when killed as an officer in the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, also in the 98th Brigade but this is an error. The War Diaries of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders record his period of service and his death in action.

98th Brigade was part of an assault force on the outer defences of the Hindenburg Line near Villers Guislain, at the Canal de St. Quentin on 21st September 1918. Villers Guislain had exceptionally strong defences of concrete pill-boxes and machine gun posts manned by the 14th Jaeger Regiment of Germany's Alpine Corps, a crack outfit. On 21st September the 2nd Argylls were ordered to bomb down the trench system known as "Leith Walk" while the 19th Brigade made a frontal attack. The Unit War Diaries state:

Siblings

Sources

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Scottish National War Memorial
• The Thirty-Third Division in France and Flanders 1915-1919. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Seton Hutchison. 1920.
• John Gray and Amelia Elizabeth Hopper marriage record. 7th May 1887, Rangoon, Burma. www.ancestry.com
• 1891 UK Census: Parish: Gravesend, Kent Class: RG12; Piece:647; Folio:104; Page: 8; GSU Roll:6095757.
• 1901 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan; ED:3; Page:3; Line:1; Roll: CSSCT1901_188.
• 1911 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan & Bridge of Weir: Ward: Bridge of Weir; Page 12; lines 25-30. 559/0B 003/00 012.
• Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
• 19th November 1914: Private John Gray of the 9th Highland Light Infantry has received a commission in the 5th A. & S. H.
• 28th September 1918: DEATHS. - Killed in action. Lieutenant John Gray, 5th A.&.S.H. attached to 2nd Argylls, aged 27 years, only son of John Gray, Bridge of Weir.
• 5th October 1918: A.&.S.H. Officer Killed - Lieutenant John Gray A.&.S.H., only son of John Gray, Airlie, Bridge of Weir, was killed in action on 21st Sept. The deceased, who was 27 years of age, enlisted as a private shortly after the outbreak of war, and subsequently received his commission in the A.&.S.H. He rose to the rank of Captain, but on going to France he reverted back to the rank of Lieutenant. He was educated at the Glasgow University, being an apprentice with Messrs McLay, Murray & Spens, writers, Glasgow.
• Glasgow Herald
  o 28th September 1918: Mr. JOHN GRAY.-Killed. Lieutenant Gray was the only son of Mr John Gray, Airlie, Bridge of Weir. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University, and was apprenticed with Messrs McLay, Murray and Spens, Glasgow. He was 27 years of age.
• War Diaries. 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. WO-95-2426-2. National Archives.
  • April 1918: The undermentioned reinforcements joined the battalion on the dates specified.
    April 30th - Lt. GRAY.
  • 19th September 1918. FINS RIDGE. At 5 a.m. on the 19th inst. the Battalion marched across country to FINS RIDGE where it was to remain for a few hours before proceeding into the line near VILLERS GUISLAIN that night. On arrival at the FINS RIDGE the Commanding Officer proceeded up the line to take over dispositions etc from the Commanding Officer of the 1st East Yorkshire Regt.
  • 19/20 September 1918: On the night of the 19th/20th the Bn relieved the 1st East Yorks Regt.
    
  • 20-23rd September 1918: Appendix: Account of Operations -
    (1) From 20th. to 23rd. Septr. 1918, and (2) On 29th. September, 1918.
    Reference Map - Sheet 570, S.E. 1/20,000.
    (a) SITUATION.
    On the night of the 19th/20th. Septr. the Battalion relieved the 1st. Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 21st Division, in the line which had been captured the day before, south and south-east of VILLERS GUISLAIN, with the 4th. Kings on the left, "B" Right support, and "A" left support.
    The enemy held the village itself and the sunken roads to the south of it. He also occupied LEITH WALK between the 98th. Infantry Brigade and the 19th. Infantry Brigade, with the result that there was a block in both front and support line trenches on the right of "D" and "B" Coys.
    (b) OPERATIONS.
    During this period - 20th. to 23rd. inclusive - three operations were undertaken by the Battalion. The first commenced at 5.40 a.m. on the 21st. when "B" and "D" Coys. were ordered to bomb down the trenches to the south of LEITH WALK at the foot of the TARGELLE VALLEY while the 19th. Brigade made a frontal attack further south and occupied trenches south of LEITH WALK effecting a junction at LEITH WALK itself.
    The 19th Brigade attack was made under a barrage and was only partially successful. "B" Coy's attack reached its objective, and Lt. Gray who headed the assault was seriously wounded and subsequently died in trying to establish touch with the 19th Brigade south of LEITH WALK.
    "D" Coy's attack was held up by a very strong block about 200 yards further down the trench with the result that the Platoons which had been detailed to capture GLOUCESTER ROAD and DERBY POST after the trench had been captured, were not employed.
    "B" Coy. also attempted to join up along an old enemy trench called STORAR AVENUE, with "D" Coy. in the front line but were unsuccessful. Eventually at about 10 a.m. when no signs of the 19th. Brigade were seen, "B" and "D" Coys. withdrew to their original positions after having suffered about 25 casualties.
• St Machar's Church of Scotland Death and Interment Register:
  o Gray, John Jr.; Captain 5th A. & S. Highrs; Airlie; Killed in Action 21 Sep 1918 Kemmel Hill; aged 27.
• Kilbarchan Cemetery Monumental Inscription:
  o In loving memory of AMELIA ELIZABETH HOPPER wife of JOHN GRAY died 1st May 1908 in her 46th year also his son Lieut. JOHN GRAY 5th Arg. & Suth. Highrs. Attached 2nd killed in action Villers Geuslaen France 21 Sept. 1918 aged 27 years The above JOHN GRAY died 16th Dec. 1931 aged 84 years.
• Glasgow Academy Roll of Honour, Jackson, Wylie & Co., Glasgow 1933
  o GRAY, John: Lieutenant: Lieutenant: 8th Battn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders: Killed in action, October 1918, at Villers Guislan: France, 1918.
• Glasgow University Archives accessed 7th February 2014.
• Photograph: University of Glasgow Archive Services, Chapel collection, GB0248 CH 4/4/2/2/89.
• Medals: Victory, British War.

TO CITE THIS PAGE: MLA style: "Bridge of Weir Memorial". Date of viewing. http://www.bridgeofweirmemorial.co.uk/profile-gray.html