Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

#2655 GRAY  Ernest Gareth  49th Battalion
 
Ernest Gray was the much loved son of William and Mary Gray. He was born in Hughenden but by the time he was old enough to attend school the family was living in Oxley in Brisbane. After leaving school, Ernie travelled widely working at various bush occupations such as selector, surveyor’s assistant, farming, mining and general labouring.
 
When Ernie presented himself for initial enlistment in Ravenshoe, Nth Queensland, on 18th April 1916, he was 23 years old. He named his father, William Gray of Murgon as his next of kin. Ravenshoe did not have the facilities to process an enlistment so a month after signing up in Ravenshoe, Ernie travelled down to Cairns where he completed his enlistment on 20th May. Armed with a travel warrant for a berth on a coastal steamer, Ernie sailed for Brisbane where he was taken on strength in the 11th Depot Battalion at Enoggera before being allocated as part of the 6th reinforcements of the 49th Battalion.
 
In late September, Ernie was granted a period of home leave and he probably took the opportunity to visit his parents at Murgon. At the same time, he visited the Public Curator’s office to make out a will.
 
On 7th October, having travelled by train to Sydney, the reinforcements boarded the “Ceramic”. The embarkation roll shows that Ernest Gray had named his father, William of “Wanjillji” Murgon as his next of kin. He allocated 3/6d from his daily pay to a bank account. Upon arrival at Plymouth in England on 21stNovember the reinforcements travelled by train to the 13th brigade Training Depot at Sutton Veney near Salisbury.
 
Soon after arriving in England, on 16th December, Ernie was admitted to the Edwell Street Military Hospital in London. His illness was diagnosed as bronchial pneumonia. Just two weeks after being admitted to hospital, Ernie died on 2nd January 1917.
 
Ernest Gray was buried with full military honours at Kensal Green Cemetery in West London. The hospital arranged for a gun carriage to convey the coffin to the cemetery as well as burial and firing parties. The resident presbyterian chaplain presided at the service. The ward sister at Edwell Street wrote to Ernie’s mother conveying some details about her son’s illness.
 
Ernie, was a self sufficient young man with a load of experience in looking after himself and had included in his kit before leaving Australia a range of personal items which included cutlery, shaving gear, 2 pocket knives, 2 guide books to London, mittens and gloves as well as two bank books for accounts with the Commonwealth Bank. All of the personal items were returned to his parents in Murgon.
 
Eventually a permanent headstone was erected over Ernie’s grave at Kensal Green. His parents chose the following inscription to be added to his name, age, rank and unit.
DEARLY LOVED SON OF MR & MRS GRAY OF MURGON QLD

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”

Ernest Gareth Gray was born at Hughenden, North Queensland on 4th June, 1892 to parents William Robert and Mary Jane Gray (nee Maffey).

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th May, 1916 as a 24 year old, single, Scholar, from Ravenshoe, North Queensland.

Private Ernest Gareth Gray, Service number 2655, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7th October, 1916 with the 49th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 21st November, 1916.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England.

On 16th December, 1916 Private Gray was admitted to Military Hospital, Endell Street– cause N.Y.D. (Not yet determined). He was admitted for cough & loss of voice. The Hospital Admissions form shows that Private Gray was not discharged, however several forms in his Service Record file state that he was discharged from Hospital on 28th December, 1916. (The War Gratuity Schedule records incorrectly that Private Gray was marched in to A.D.B.D. at Havre from Hospital in 8th July, 1917). Private Gray was reported as seriously ill on 1st January, 1917.

Private Ernest Gareth Gray died on 2nd January, 1917 at Military Hospital, Endell Street, London, England from Broncho Pneumonia.

He was buried at 9.45 am on 6th January, 1917 in All Souls Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England – Plot number 22 (some forms have the grave no. altered to No. 3), Square 213, Row 8 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

The Doctor in Charge, Military Hospital, Endell Street, London wrote to Officer Commanding, Australian Imperial Force, Horseferry Road, London on 3rd January, 1917 to advise that the funeral of the late Private Ernest Gareth Gray would take place on Saturday at 9.45 am on 6th January, 1917 from the Hospital & “proceeding to Kensal Green Cemetery. The coffin has been ordered through Messrs Vigers and grave. Bearing and Firing Parties and Gun Carriage have been procured. Our Presbyterian Chaplain will officiate at the service, which will take place here.”

A letter was written from Base Records on 19th April, 1920 to Mr W. R. Gray. Murgon via Brisbane, Queensland, father of the late Pte E. G. Gray, advising that the remains of his son had been exhumed from the former site & re-interred in Grave No. 3 Section 174, Kensal Green Cemetery, London. The letter stated that “This work is carried out with every measure of care and reverence in the presence of a Chaplain.”

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/kensal-green--all-souls.html