The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J F Dray

Private James Frederick DRAY, L/9840, 2nd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died whist a Prisoner of War, at Afion Kara Hissar Camp, Turkey, 31st May 1916, age 22.

July 1894, born Catford, London, SE, son of Samuel and Phyllis Dray, of 34, Heston Street, Deptford, London. Brothers - John Dray & Phillip Dray.

1911 Census - 21 Speedwell Street, Deptford - Samuel Dray, head, age 54, labourer, builder, born Battersea, Surrey; Phillis Dray, wife, age 52, married 25 years, 8 children, 5 still alive, born Eltham, Kent; Phillip Dray, son, age 21, single, labourer, born Eltham, Kent; Samuel Dray, son, age 18, single, bottle washer, brewery, born Lewisham, Kent; James Dray, son, age 16, single, box maker, born Lewisham, Kent.

Previously served 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, Service No.8425, Enlisted 13thNovember 1911, New Cross, age 18 years, 4 months, height 5ft 7½ inches, weight 116lbs, fresh complexion, dark blue eyes, brown hair, several scars top of head. Formerly box maker. 12th March 1912, joined Regular Army.

Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 18 years & 11 months, height 5ft 7½ inches, weight 119lbs, fresh complexion, dark blue eyes, brown hair, scar inner side of left thumb. Formerly box maker.

Home 12th March 1912 to 23rd October 1913; India 24th October 1913 to 31st January 1915; Indian Expeditionary Force D, 1st February to 31st May 1916.

12th March 1912, enlisted; 17th April 1912, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd July 1912, Dublin, neglecting to obey an order, 10 days confined to Barracks; 18th September 1912, Dublin, urinating his bedding, 7 days confined to Barracks; 4th February 1913, Dublin, having vermin in his kit, 7 days confined to Barracks; 9th February 1913, Dublin, absent from Defaulters Roll call at 7.00am, 5 days confined to Barracks; 24th September 1913, employment sheet, minor irregularities, hard working & intelligent, not a clean man; 22nd October 1913, posted 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 22nd January 1914, 2nd Class Certificate of Education; 31st January 1915, Karachi, embarked; 6th February 1915, Basra, disembarked; 4th July 1915 to 7th July 1915, Ahway, No.4. Field Ambulance, diarrhoea; 11th September 1915 to 23rd September 1915, Nasiriyah, Hospital, colitis; 29th April 1916, captured at Kut-al-Amara; 1st May 1916 to 31st May 1916, death assumed between, died of enteritis, whist a Prisoner of War.

24th June 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, Samuel Dray, age 67, 34, Heston Street, Deptford, SE; Mother, Phillis Dray, age 63, 34, Heston Street, Deptford, SE; Phillip Dray, age 30, 10 Cheshunt Road, Belvedere, Kent; Sisters - Mrs E Mashel?, age 32, 33 Heston Street, Deptford, SE; Mrs E Holton?, age 28, 10 Cheshunt Road, Belvedere, Kent.

Commemorated at Basra Memorial, Panel 29, Iraq.

This page was last updated on 11-Sep-2018.