Gray, John Richard
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Click here to read about an honest to goodness survivor of the Charge who came to Western Australia.
Charge of the Light Brigade by William Simpson| PERSONAL DETAILS | John Richard GRAY |
|---|---|
| Birth date and Place: | 25 Nov 1831 Chatham, Kent, England. |
| Baptism date and Place: | 2 Sep 1832 St Mary’s Church, Chatham, Kent. |
| Census Residences: | Medway Union Workhouse, Rochester, Kent (1841). |
| Occupations pre-WA: | Assistant Warder, Chatham Prison. |
| Physical Description: | Height: 5 ft. 8 ins. Complexion fresh. Eyes: hazel. Hair: dark brown. |
| Marriage date and Place: | 1st 25 Dec 1853 Ipswich, Suffolk, England. 2nd 7 Sep 1872 Fremantle, Western Australia. |
| Spouse: | 1st Isabella KERSEY. 2nd Maria WICKLIFFE. |
| Children: | 2nd marriage: John Lewis Gray b. 1878 (d. at sea 1878), Tullynewtane, Antrim, Ireland. Elizabeth Minnie b. 1879, Fremantle, Western Australia. |
| Death date and Place: | 24 Jun 1891 Adelaide Street, Fremantle, Western Australia. |
| Burial date and Place: | 25 Jun 1891 Skinner Street Cemetery, Fremantle, Western Australia. Headstone is situated in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia. Anglican Section KA 681. |
| Will and Probate: | Will: 17 Jan 1881. Probate: 30 Jun 1891, Supreme Court of Western Australia. [Cons. 3403-1891-1053]. |
| Obituaries: | West Australian 26 Jun 1891. Western Mail 27 Jun 1891. Colonial Military Gazette Aug 1891. |
| ARMED FORCES | |
| Regiment: | 57th West Middlesex Regiment. 1 May 1851 transferred to 4th Queens Own Regiment of Light Dragoons. |
| Regiment No. and Rank: | #1816 Private (57th). #1485 Private (4th LD). |
| Attestation date and Place: | 24 Nov 1845 Rochester, Kent (under-age 15 years). |
| Service/Campaigns: | East Turkey and Crimea 1 year, 10 months. |
| Musters: | 1851 Dublin, Ireland (57th Regiment) [WO 12-6673]. |
| Promotions: | None. |
| Medals, Clasps and Badges: | Crimea War Medal with clasps Alma, Balaklava and Sebastopol. Turkish Crimea Medal. Two Good Conduct Badges. |
| Casualty/Medical: | Casualty Roll: Slight wound, action at Balaclava 25 Oct 1854. 26 Oct (1854) to Scutari (Hospital) [WO100-24-201 Medal Roll]. Has for a considerable time suffered from varicose veins of the legs to which some predisposition must have existed. His disability has not been aggravated by vice or misconduct . Unfit for further service [13 May 1861]. |
| Regimental Courts Martial: | None. |
| District Courts Martial: | None. |
| General Courts Martial: | None. |
| Discharge date and Place: Length of Service: | 13 May 1861, Dublin, Ireland. 12 years, 171 days. |
| Chelsea Pension Reference: | WO97/1285/146. |
| Post Discharge Residence: | 27 Norwich Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England. |
| Post Discharge Pension District: | Ipswich (1861), Chatham (1863). |
| Pension Amount: | 8d. per diem (for three years) (1861). Pension ceased (1864). Refused increase in pension (1877). Awarded 5d. per diem Deferred Pension from 24 Nov 1880. |
| ARRIVAL and LIFE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA | |
| Ship: | Belgravia. |
| Departure and Arrival: | 07 Apr 1866 Portland; 04 Jul 1866 Fremantle. |
| Status/Occupation: | Warder Fremantle Prison [D J Barker pp. 86-87]. Resigned 1887 owing to loss of the use of both legs [M S James p.323]. |
| Land Grant/Purchase Source of Land Records courtesy of | 30 Dec 1889 Purchase by Auction from Estate of Sarah Harding (Maria Gray’s widowed sister): Fremantle Town Lot 303, Cantonment Road, Fremantle Town Lot 266, Beach Street, Fremantle Town Lot 561 Adelaide Street, Swan Location P233, Butler’s Swamp (9½ acres), *Swan Location 429, 1st & 2nd Avenues? (40 acres). Inquirer & Commercial News 25 Dec 1889 & 1 Jan 1890 (see sidebar). * Originally granted to James Harding in 1866 for a sum of £20 [Landgate]. |
| Misc. Newspaper Articles | Herald 13 Feb & 10 Oct 1873. Herald 13 Feb 1875. Western Australian Times 16 Feb 1875. Belfast Morning, 25 Feb 1879. Belfast New-Letter 25 Feb 1879. |