Charles Robert Gray was the son of Alfred and Emily Gray, born 1891 in Northfleet, Kent.

The family had emigrated to Canada from Northfleet, Kent, England in the period 1911-1913. Many letters were written to and from Charles/Charlie (A4092) and his brother Walter/Wally (A4093) during their service in the Canadian Army (C.E.F) in World War 1.

They joined up in April 1915 in Toronto and after initial training in Canada proceeded to England for further training.

They were then sent to France in July 1915 and joined the 3rd Battalion. They served in the Ypres salient.

On June 3 1916 Charlie (age 25) was killed and Wally (age 21) was seriously wounded in the leg when an enemy shelled landed on their company when it was on its way back into the trenches at Ypres. Charlie is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery at Lijssenthoek, near Poperinghe, Belgium which is in ‘Flanders’ Fields’. The family still hold the original cross that was placed on his grave there.

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Born: Belgium, 1891

Awards:

Rank: Private

Regiment: Canadian Infantry

Unit/ship/squadron: "B" Coy. 3rd Bn.