Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Andrew Gray was born in Dundee, Forfarshire. He was educated at Perth Academy before his family emigrated to Australia. He enlisted in the 9/11th Battalion A.I.F. in Perth, Western Australia, on 5th July 1915. He embarked at Fremantle, W.A., on 5th October 1915, on H.M.A.T. A20, “HORORATA”, as part of a group of reinforcements. His father died in Perth, W.A., on the 9th June 1928.

The 11th Battalion was among the first infantry units to be raised during World War 1 for the First Australian Imperial Force. It was the first battalion recruited in Western Australia, and following a brief training period in Perth, the battalion sailed to Egypt where it undertook four months of intensive training.

After service in Gallipoli it returned to Egypt where it was split to help form the 51st Battalion. In March 1916, the battalion was deployed to the Western Front in France and Belgium where it took part in trench warfare until the end of the war.

In July 1916, the battalion moved to the Somme and were committed to the fighting around Pozieres. After arriving at Albert on the 19th July, amidst a gas attack, the battalion spent the next couple of days preparing to attack, during which they were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. The attack was put in just before midnight on the 23rd July and was a costly success, with the battalion sustaining heavy casualties.
Andrew Gray would have been one of these casualties. He was 20 years of age.

Perthshire Advertiser, 7th October 1916.
“OUR OWN MEN - LATEST GAPS IN THE RANKS - KILLED, DIED AND WOUNDED”
“Corporal Andrew Gray Killed”
“Corporal Andrew Gray, of the Australians, son of Mr and Mrs Gray, Midland Junction, Western Australia, has died in action. A native of Perth, he was educated at Sharp’s Institution, and emigrated to Australia several years ago, along with his parents and sister, who resided in the Dunkeld Road. He was 22 years of age, and was married. A brother and brother-in-law are serving with the Australian Force.”
Sunday Times, Perth, WA, 22nd July 1917.
“IN MEMORIAM”
“GRAY” - “In loving memory of my dear husband, Corporal Andrew Gray of the 9/11th Battalion A.I.F., killed in action in France July 22nd 1916. - Inserted by his loving wife May.”
“GRAY” - “In loving remembrance of Private Andrew Gray (late cleaner W.A.G.R.) killed in action at Pozieres between July 22 and 25, 1916, aged 20 years and 6 months, brother of Bob (on active service), and Mrs Cherry, and brother-in-law of Arthur (on active service), and beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gray, Midland Junction.”

This biography was written by students of Perth Academy, Perthshire, Scotland, and kindly donated to the Virtual War Memorial Australia.