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Oct 11, 1887
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Born in Fort Covington, New York, USA to John
and Margaret Sarah (nee Benn) De Gray
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Nov 23, 1907
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Married to Edith Laviolette in Cornwall, Ontario
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Dec 8, 1915
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Attested into the 154th Battalion CEF
in Cornwall, Ontario
Ø Number 633006
Ø Next of kin given as Edith De Gray, wife, Cornwall, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Gardiner
Ø Previous military experience given as 8 years in the 59th
Regiment, Canadian Militia
Ø Religion given as Roman Catholic
On enlisting he stated that he had a son,
Lawrence Kelvin, age 9 years and a daughter, Edith Estelle, age 2 years
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Oct 25, 1916
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Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Oct 31, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training
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Nov 21, 1916
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Promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal
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Jan 31, 1917
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The 154th Battalion was absorbed into
the newly formed 6th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling. Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it
moved to Seaford
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Feb 27, 1917
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Attended a Medical Board at Shorncliffe with
Synovitis in his right knee. The board notes
that he fractured the knee cap while playing hockey in February, 1916. There is no note in the service file to indicate
the date, or where treatment was given.
The board recommends light duties for 2 weeks
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Apr 5, 1917
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Granted permission to be revert to the rank of
private in order to proceed to a fighting battalion
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Apr 17, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Apr 18, 1917
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 85 reinforcements from England and TOS
(Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Apr 21, 1917
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Left the CBD and joined the 21st
Battalion in the close support trenches east of Vimy Ridge
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Aug 15, 1917
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During the battalion’s preparations for the
attack on Hill 70, Private De Gray was killed by an enemy artillery shell. He was buried in a field near Hill 70 and his
grave was recorded. When the war ended and
the Imperial Graves Commission was relocating the battlefield burials into proper
cemeteries, Private De Gray’s remains could not be found. This was most likely the result of heavy
artillery shelling in the area. As a result
of not having a known grave, he is honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial,
Vimy Ridge, France.
He is named on the family grave marker in the
St. Columbian’s Cemetery in Cornwall, Ontario
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow,
Mrs. Edith De Gray, PO Box 370 Cornwall, Ontario
A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs.
John De Gray, c/o Mrs. Edith De Gray, at the same address.
From the Vancouver Province newspaper,
September 10, 1917
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Private Lawrence De Gray
is also honoured on the
Cornwall, Ontario War Memorial
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