Selected Biography

Bray, Albert – Born: Leavenheath, Suffolk on 1.10.1887.  Parents: William Bray (Agricultural Labourer) and Phoebe [née Sexton] (Tailoress).  Home: Honey Tye, Nayland-cum-Wissington, Suffolk (1891), Rotten Row, Long Melford.  (1901), lodging with Robert Anderson at Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire (1911), 9 Leicester Road, Lewes, Sussex (1939).  Occupation: Stable Lad in Long Melford (1901), Stableman (1911 to 1939).  Service Record: Albert enlisted on 30.8.1914 as Rfn.2295 with 1/15^th [County of London] Battalion, [Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles] London Regiment.  He was posted to France from 18.3.1915 to 17.5.1918 as part of 40^th Brigade, 47^th (1/2^nd London) Division, seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.  Private Bray was transferred on 5.4.1918 as Rfn.530551 to 17^th [County of London] Battalion, [Poplar and Stepney Rifles], London Regiment, then on 18.5.1918 as Rfn.738258 to 1/24^th [County of London] Battalion, [The Queen’s], London Regiment.  In May 1919 he was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to sickness.[i]

Note – [i] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register.  See his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] and Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 334401].