Feb 18, 1899

Born in born in Buffalo, New York, USA to Charles and Alice (nee Winn) Gray

His father Charles, died in 1906 and in 1908 his widowed mother brought the family to Toronto, Ontario

Aug 10, 1915

Attested into the 83^rd Battalion CEF in Toronto, Ontario

 Ø  Number 171099

Ø  Next of kin given as Alice Gray, mother, 208 Robert St., Toronto, Ontario

o   Her address was later changed to 58 Grand Ave. W., Highland Park, Michigan, USA

Ø  Previous occupation given as Shop Keeper

o   Later noted as Electrician and Stock Keeper

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2^nd Field Company, Canadian Engineers for 3 months

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

Ø  Posted to the 83^rd Battalion’s 1^st Regimental Draft

On attesting, he stated had been born in 1897 in Toronto, Ontario, not his actual birth year of 1899 in Buffalo, New York, USA.  He was only 16 years of age

Initial training was carried out at the Niagara Camp, Niagara-on-the-Lake from August 1915 to April 25, 1916 when the battalion moved to the Riverdale Barracks in Toronto

Sep 25, 1915

The 1^st Regimental Draft embarked the SS Corsican in Montreal, Quebec

Oct 6, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe where the draft was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Feb 29, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 2, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Mar 16, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Gray joined the 21^st Battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium

Apr 14, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) sometimes referred to as Trench Fever.  He was transferred to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station), then on to the No. 8 Stationary Hospital in Wimereux, France where the diagnosis was changed to read Influenza

Apr 20, 1916

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne, France

Jun 11, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and reported to the base details in Boulogne

Jun 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian General Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Jul 20, 1916

Classified PB (Permanent Base) meaning he was not fit for front line duty

Jul 23, 1916

Attached to the Canadian Corps Headquarters and posted to the Composite Company

May 3, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the Composite Company

May 4, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion and rejoined “B” Company west of Thélus, France

Aug 10, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Aug 31, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Sep 13, 1917

Rejoined the battalion resting in Villers au Bois, France

Oct 5, 1917

Transferred to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) as a minor as he was discovered to be underage

Oct 8, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st Army School

Mar 19, 1918

Transferred to the No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples, France

Apr 6, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart, France

Apr 17, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Gray rejoined the 21^st Battalion in reserve at Wailly, France

Aug 27, 1918

While advancing towards the Sensee River south-east of Vis en Artois, France, Private Gray received a shrapnel wound to his right buttock and was evacuated to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to No. 7 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel from his upper thigh

Aug 29, 1918

Transferred to the No. 16 Philadelphia USA General Hospital in Le Treport, France

Sep 3, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Essequibo

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Hoole Bank War Hospital in Chester.  On admission his wound was noted as healing well, but Drop Foot is very evident (meaning his right foot cannot be held up and when lifted, the foot flops down.

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 18, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

On admission he is noted as not being able to flex his right foot up.  This required a right angle splint.  There was damage to his Sciatic Nerve and he is also noted as having double Flat Feet “to a marked degree”

Dec 27, 1918

Forfeited a total of 11 days pay for being absent from December 20 to December 27, 1918

Dec 31, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool

Feb 2, 1919

Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Liverpool

Feb 13, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was Taken on Strength Military District Depot No. 3

Feb 15, 1919

Admitted to the Brant Military Hospital in Burlington, Ontario for treatment of his nerve damage

Feb 17, 1919

Granted leave until March 3, 1919

Mar 31, 1919

Forfeited a total of 9 days pay for being absent from the hospital from March 29 until March 31, 1919

Apr 2, 1919

Transferred to the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

Jun 14, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 19, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 704 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 704 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Jun 9, 1924

Married to Alice Maude Cole in Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA

Bill Gray remained active with both his old unit in Canada, but with his new friends and comrades in the United States.  In 1964 he was awarded the American Legion’s Meritorious Service Medal.

In 1975, William Gray was elected President of the 21^st Battalion Association

Jan 19, 1978

William Auld Gray died in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and was buried in the Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland