Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born Norwood, South Australia, in October 1894. Nothing can be found about his childhood except the school he went to and his parents name on his attestation papers. His early stages of learning was conducted at Norwood Primary School where his name is engraved on a Honor Board to commemorate the services done by the boys of the school. His mothers name was listed as Katherine Gray on the next of kin, and his fathers name was written on a approval form as, Horace William Gray. His occupation was said as to being a shop assistant on the attestation papers and with a marital status of being single.

He enlisted in the AIF with zero previous military experience on the 11th of May 1915 at Keswick SA, at the age of 20 years and 7 months, as stated on his attestation papers. He was said to be 5 foot 6.5 inches and weighed in at 131 lbs. He was described to have slight brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.

He was TOS(Taken on Strength) by the 27th Infantry Battalion, which was a part of the 7th Brigade. The 27th Infantry battalion was made and formed out of previously earmarked people from the 24th Battalion. This meant that most of the people who were a part of the 27th Infantry Battalion were fellows from the suburbs of Adelaide. It was said to contain 800-1000 soldiers throughout out the war The 27th Infantry Battalion embarked in June 1915 and spent 2 months training in Egypt.

They then landed at Gallipoli on 12th September 1915 and assisted the campaign until the end of the campaign on the 19th December 1915. Nothing about this is shown on Herbert Edmond Gray's battle record, but it is shown in the battalion involvement records. Their first major involvement was at the Battle of Pozieres, in Pozieres, France from 23rd July to 7th August 1916. Their other major involvement was at the Battle of Menin Road which took place from 20th to 25th September 1917 in Ypres Belgium.

The battalion was also a part of many other battles like the Battle of Amiens, Battle of Broodseinde Ridge, Battle of Flers, Battle of Hamel, Beaurevoir Line, German Spring Offensive, Hindenburg Line and Morlancourt, as stated by the Australian War Memorial(AWM). They also hold battle honors in all battles already stated above and in battles such as Albert(1918), Bullecourt, Egypt(1915-1916), France and Flanders(1916-1918), Mont St. Quentin, Passchendaele, Poelcappelle, Polygon wood, Somme(1916-1918) and Ypres(1917).

Herbert Edmond Gray was injured many times as a soldier on field. He was injured in the Battle of Pozieres on the 6th of August one day before the recorded end of that war. He spent a few days in hospital recovering before rejoining the 27th Infantry Battalion on the 15th of August 1917. He was also injured in the Battle of Menin Road. Herbert Edmond Gray's injury records state that he was shot while in field on the 21st of September. Records say that he rejoined his battalion in field on the 27th of September 1917. The battalion was finaly disbanded on the 4th of June 1919 as said by AWM.

Even though the exact date of his return to Australia is unknown, Herbert returned to Australia after putting a valiant effort in the war. He requested for his documents on the 11th of September 1969 where his current address was listed as being 11 Claire St, Lower Mitcham, SA. His service record shows that while he was serving in the army, he was taken into hospital for having defective vision on the 10th of October 1918. 

Herbert Edmond Gray died on the 2nd of July 1979 from Pk at the age of 84 years and 8 months. According to the Centennial Park Cemetary, his last abode was stated to be in Westbourne Park. He was cremated on the 4th of July 1979 and is currently resting at Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Mitcham City, Say, in the Columbarium, Wall 19 Niche C038.