James Gray was the son of John William Gray and Annie Gray. He was born in Dungannon on 20th April 1893, one of at least nine children. The family lived at Donnydeade, Dungannon. His father was a farmer. In July 1916 L/Corporal James Gray was invalided home suffering from severe shell shock. L/Corp Gray returned to the front and injured again in August 1917. James Gray died in Dungannon on the 24th February 1922. The Dungannon War Memorial lists Lance Corporal James Gray of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Lance Corporal James Gray is NOT listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Further Information
James Gray was the son of John William Gray and Annie Gray. John Gray and Annie Ruddy were married on 27th July 1881 in the district of Dungannon.
John Gray was born in Dungannon on 20th April 1893. He was one of at least nine children, all born in the Dungannon area.
Known family: John William Gray, Annie Gray, Elizabeth Gray (born 27th May 1882), Sarah Gray (born 20th December 1884), William Gray (born 1st April 1886), John Gray (born 1st June 1888), Richard Gray (born 12th November 1889, died 29th March 1890), Margaret Gray (born 11th May 1891), James Gray (born 20th April 1893), Lucy Gray (born 4th October 1894), Richard Gray (born 27th July 1899).
The 1901 census lists James as age 8 living with the family at house 10 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone. James was at school. His father was a farmer.
The 1911 census lists James as age 18 living with the family at house 1 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone. James Gray was a farmer.
James belonged to Dungannon Battalion of the U.V.F.
James' brother, Private John Gray, was killed in action in May 1915.
1916
Various newspaper reports from July 1916 states that Lance Corporal James Gray had been invalided home suffering from severe shell shock. The report confirmed that he was the son of Mr John W Gray, Doneydade, Dungannon.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th July 1916: County Tyrone Volunteers
Private James Gray, Doneydade, Dungannon, shell-shock.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 20 July 1916:
Private James Gray (invalided home during to shell shock), is a son of Mr John G Gray, Doneydade.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 22nd July 1916:
Lance Corporal James Gray, Tyrone Volunteers, invalided home suffering from severe shell shock, is a son of Mr John W Gray, Doneydade, Dungannon. He belonged to Dungannon Battalion, U.V.F.
1917
Lance Corporal James Gray returned to the front. Reports in the local newspapers in August 1917 states that he was injured in action again.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th August 1917:
Lance-Corporal James Gray, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mr J W Gray, Doneydade, Dungannon, wounded. His brother, Corporal John Gray, of the Irish Guards, was killed eighteen months ago.
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 23 August 1917:
Mr J W Gray, Doneydade, Dungannon, has been informed that his son Lance-Corporal James Gray was recently wounded in action. Another son of Mr Gray's, Corporal John Gray, of the Irish Guards, was killed eighteen months ago.
1922
James Gray died in Dungannon on the 24th February 1922.
GRONI records the death of only one James Gray in the Dungannon area of that age in the timeframe specified (i.e. between 1917 and the date the memorial was unveiled, November 1922).
James Gray is buried in the family plot at Killyman St Andrew’s Church of Ireland Churchyard. The headstone reads:
In memory of Richard Gray died 27th March 1891; John W Gray, killed in action 16th May 1915; Margaret E Gray, died 3rd November 1915; James Gray, died 24th February 1922; Also Annie Gray, mother of the above John and James, died 6th May 1937, aged 82; John William Gray, died 5th November 1937.
The Dungannon War Memorial lists Lance Corporal James Gray of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Lance Corporal James Gray is NOT listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
