Bray, Fred

Frederick Bray, Merchant Taylors School Roll of Honour

Fred was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 29 September 1889, the third son of Alfred and Catherine (nee Musson) Bray. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Fred enlisted at Bedford on 16 November 1915 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental Number 26217. The Regiment landed at Le Havre on 25 July 1916 and went straight to the front line on the Somme. On 19 November 1916 Fred sustained a gunshot wound to his left thigh. In August 1918 Fred was granted leave to return to England for two weeks, returning to the Front on 22 August 1918, where a week later he was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was admitted to a field hospital and on 11 November was listed for demobilisation.

Fred survived the War and returned to Ashwell.

Fred was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour and is buried in the Ashwell United Reformed Church cemetery

Before enlisting Fred was a builder with FJ Bailey of Ashwell.

Fred married Doris Mary Ann Barker Stafford in the 1^st quarter 1938 in the Hitchin district. It is not known if they had children together. The 1939 census shows them living in Ashwell with Fred a builder master.

Fred died on 23 October 1960 and is buried in the Ashwell United Reformed Church graveyard.

Fred’s brother William served with the Royal Engineers and survived the War.

Fred enlisted with his friends from Ashwell, George Bryant and John Oyston. The Regiment landed at Le Havre on 25 July 1916 and went straight to the front line on the Somme. George was killed in an assault on the village of Beaucourt during the Battle of the Somme. The attack began at 06.00am in pitch darkness as well as thick fog which lasted most of the day. Although surprised by the attack the German dugouts and machine gun positions were not effectively dealt with and many casualties were sustained as a result of heavy rifle and machine gun fire. The battalion suffered 194 casualties in the action. Beaucourt was not taken until the following day. Fred and John survived the War.

Royston Crow 24 Nov 1916 Pte Geo Bryant killed, Pte F Bray wounded. Served together, former bricklayers for FJ Bailey of Ashwell.