Lives of the First World War

Monchy-le-Preux

De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour 1914-1924: GRAY, Paul McInnes, Private, 4939/241449, 2nd Battalion (78th Foot) Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs,The Duke of Abany's), 10th Brigade, 4th Division of the British Expeditionary Force. Youngest son of Alexander of Culmaily, Lairg, Sutherland, Farmer and his wife, Catherine, daughter of Malcolm McInnes. Born; Culmaily aforesaid, 11th Jan 1892. Educated; Lairg Public School. Was on the farm at home. Joined the 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George on 1st June 1916 and served as part of 152nd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division of the British Expeditionary Force in France from the following 1st November. Was wounded at the Battle of Arras 9th April 1917 and invalided home. Transferred to the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders, 10th Brigade, 4th Division of the British Expeditionary Force and returned to France in October. Was killed in action at Cambrai 1st Dec 1917. Buried in Plot 1, Row F, Grave 24 at Windmill British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux.

De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

My paternal grandfather's brother 4939 Pte Paul McInnes Gray with other serving 1/5th (Sutherland & Caithness) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders soldiers, outside "The Fear Nought Hotel." The assumption is that this photo was taken at Fort George while he was undergoing Basic Training there, after he had enlisted on 1st June 1916. Alternatively, it might have been taken between 1st November 1916 and 9th April 1917, somewhere in France or Flanders. This is based on the fact that my great uncle served in France with this battalion between those dates, before being wounded at the Battle of Arras (9th April 1917), invalided home and subsequently transferred to the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders,10th Brigade, 4th Division of the British Expeditionary Force on his recovery and return to France in October 1917. He was Killed in Action during the Battle of Cambrai on 1st December 1917.