John Gray was the son of John and Annie Gray. John was born in Clonfeacle, on 1st June 1888. The family lived in Donnydeade, near Dungannon. His father was a farmer. John enlisted with the Irish Guards and served the full period. He afterwards joined the Royal Irish Constabulary. Prior to the outbreak of war, Constable John Gray was stationed in Springfield Road Barracks, Belfast. He was called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards. Private John Gray was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards when he was killed in action in France on 18th May 1915.
Further Information
John 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 Clonfeacle, County Tyrone on 1st June 1888. 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 John as age 13 living with the family at house 10 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone. John was still at school. His father was a farmer.
The 1911 census does not list John as living with the family at house 1 in Donnydeade, Bernagh, Tyrone.
John Gray enlisted with the Irish Guards and served the full period. John Gray enlisted in Dungannon.
He afterwards joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) and was stationed in several districts, both north and south. Prior to the outbreak of war, Constable John Gray was stationed in Springfield Road Barracks, Belfast.
Prior to the outbreak of war, Constable John Gray was stationed in Springfield Road Barracks, Belfast. He was called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards and he had been on active service at the front for some time.
He was called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards
Private Gray arrived in France on 23rd January 1915.
Private John Gray was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards when he was killed in action in France on 18th May 1915.
Private Gray was killed by heavy shrapnel within about six yards of a German trench's parapet.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 28th May 1915: Royal Irish Constabulary
The many friends in Belfast of Constable John Gray, who prior to the outbreak of war was stationed in Springfield Road barracks, will regret to learn that he has been killed in Flanders while serving with the Irish Guards. Constable Gray, who was the eldest son of Mr John W Gray, an extensive farmer residing at Doneydade, near Dungannon, enlisted with the Irish Guards and served the full period. He afterwards joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) and was stationed in several districts, both north and south. Called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards, he had been on active service at the front for some time. A fellow Guardsman and former police constable D Hegarty, who is a native of Charlemont, has now written to Constable Bookless, R.I.C., Moy, under date 22nd May, stating that Gray was killed by heavy shrapnel within about six yards of a German trench's parapet. Constable Kennedy, who had been stationed at Loughgall, was killed on the same day as Gray. He adds:-
'We advanced in the face of as terrible an artillery and maxim gun fire as any regiment was ever subjected to in this war. Lord Caledon's brother, who is one of our officers, was wounded, was wounded and I got the back of my frock torn off by a maxim bullet when we were digging ourselves in under a perfect hail of missiles.'
From the Tyrone Courier dated 3rd June 1915:
Constable John Gray, Springfield Road Barracks, Belfast, whose death was reported last week, was the eldest son of Mr John W Gray, a farmer residing at Donnydeade near Dungannon. He was called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards. A fellow Guardsman and former police constable, D Hegarty, who is a native of Charlemont, has now written to Constable Bookless, R.I.C., Moy, stating that Gray was killed by shrapnel within six yards of the parapet of a German trench. He also mentions that Constable Kennedy, who had been stationed in Loughgall, was killed on the same day, and continues:-
‘We advanced in the face of as terrible an artillery fire and Maxim gun fire as any regiment was ever subjected to in this war. Lord Caledon’s brother, who is one of our officers, was wounded, and I got the back of my frock torn off by a maxim bullet when we were digging ourselves in under a perfect hail of missiles.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th June 1915: Private John Gray
The many friends in Belfast of Constable John Gray, who had been stationed prior to the outbreak of war in Springfield Road Barracks, will much regret to learn that it is intimated he has been killed in Flanders while serving with the Irish Guards. Constable Gray, who was the eldest son of Mr John W Gray, an extensive farmer residing at Doneydade, near Dungannon, enlisted with the Irish Guards and served the full period. He afterwards joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) and was stationed in several districts, both north and south, and at the outbreak of the war, found him doing duty in Belfast in Springfield Road district. He was then called up on the reserve of the Irish Guards and had been on active service at the front for some time. A fellow Guardsman and former police Constable D Hegarty, who is a native of Charlemont, has now written to Constable Bookless, R.I.C., Moy, under date 22nd May, stating:
‘I am alive and kicking, although I have had a few pretty narrow shaves within the past few days. You will, I am sure, that poor Jack Gray is dead. He was killed in an advance we were making the other day, for a heavy shrapnel shell got him when he was only about six yards from the German trench parapet. I suppose you know Constable Kennedy, who was stationed at Loughgall. He was killed also on the same day as Gray. We advanced in the face of as terrible an artillery and maxim gun fire as any regiment was ever subjected to in this war. Lord Caledon’s brother, who is one of our officers, was wounded, was wounded and I got the back of my frock torn off by a maxim bullet when we were digging ourselves in under a perfect hail of missiles. The poor old ‘Micks’ lost heavily, but it is the fortune of war. Tell all the boys I was asking for them.’
From the Tyrone Courier dated 3 August 1916:
Private John Gray, Irish Guards, son of Mr John W Gray, Donnydeade.
Private Gray has no known grave is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.
John Gray's brother, Lance Corporal James Gray, was invalided out of the army in 1916. He died in 1922 and is commemorated on Dungannon War Memorial.
Private John Gray is commemorated locally on both Dungannon War Memorial and also on Moy War Memorial.
Private John Gray is also commemorated on the family headstone 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
