Arthur Wray 1891-1916

Arthur Wray Barnsley Chronicle 19 August 1916
(thanks to Barnsley Archives)

Born:
He was born in April 1891 in Yorkshire and baptised on 17th May 1891 at St John the Baptist, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England

Son of:
Arthur Wray b. about 1862 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.  d. Mar 1941 in Barnsley, Yorkshire West Riding. In 1911 he was a Bootmaker and lived at 13 Park Road, Barnsley
Married on 11 Dec 1883 in Silkstone with Stainborough, All Saints, Yorkshire
Mary Emma Winter, daughter of George Winter. She was born about 1867 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England.

Position in family: The 3rd eldest of 9 children of whom 6 were living in 1911
1.    ALFRED WRAY was born in Jul 1884 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. (He possibly died between 1901 and 1911). In 1901 he worked as a “taker in” in a glass bottle works.
2.    POLLY WRAY was born in Apr 1889 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
3.    ARTHUR WRAY was born in Apr 1891 in Yorkshire  WW1 KILLED
4.    MABEL WRAY was born in Jan 1894 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. She died in Apr 1895 in Yorkshire West Riding
5.    ALICE HILDA WRAY was born on 28 Apr 1898 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
6.    FRANK WRAY was born about 1902 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
7.    STANLEY WRAY was born on 07 Nov 1903 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
8.    LILY WRAY was born on 24 Oct 1908 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.

Home address, age and occupation:
1891: Baptism, 50 Joseph Road, Barnsley
1901: 26 Park Road, Barnsley; 9
1911: 13 Park Road, Barnsley; 20; Bottle Maker
1915 at enlistment: 46 Windermere Road Barnsley, 24

He was unmarried

Military Service:
Enlisted: 7 June 1915 at the age of 24 years 1½ months
Regiment and Battalion:    3/5 York and Lancaster; posted to 1/5th Battalion
Service number and rank:  4092; Private
Awards: Victory and British War Medals

Personal information:  5’ 4½   tall, 34” chest.

Death:         2 July 1916 aged 25
CWGC Remembered: Thiepval Memorial; Pier and Face 14 A and 14 B.
 
Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Arthur and Mary Emma Wray, of 46, Windermere Rd., Barnsley.

Remembered:
Barnsley, Redfearn Brothers Glassworks & Aldham Works War Memorial 
Barnsley, Redfearn Bros Ltd Roll of Honour
Barnsley, St Peter's Church, Doncaster Road

Notes:
According to their war diary the 1/5th York and Lancaster regiment were in the areas of Aveluy Wood and Thiepval Wood on the 1st and 2nd July 1916.  These were the first two days of the battle of the Somme.   

This soldier's story has been submitted by Peter West.

Barnsley Chronicle 5 August 1916
(thanks to Barnsley Archives)

This newspaper snip from the Barnsley Chronicle 5 August 1916 gives a little more information about the death of Private Arthur Wray.

Note that his date of death is given as 3rd July, based on a letter from Arthur's officer, Second Lieutenant Beetham who also tells Arthur's mother that he was "killed instantaneously by a shell while on duty".  That appears to be an important point and it is repeated at the end of the piece - that he "died at his post manfully fighting for his King and country".

Arthur Wray's baptism entry from St John's church, Barnsley (from Ancestry)