Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 1429764

Reference: WO372/8

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

URL: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D2417965
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UPP: GBM/MCI/1431492

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7120304

Reference: CWGCCASUALIWM

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records

Description: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) commemorate First World War servicemen and women and members of some civilian organisations who died before 31 August 1921 while in Commonwealth military service or of causes attributable to service.

Connected by: Imperial1

URL: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/29162/
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

UPP: GBM/CWGCCASUALIWM/102485

Additional: This record has been automatically matched to the Life Story by IWM, using rules based on name, rank, number, regiment and service.

Credit: © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Source information

ID: 8835002

Title: Photo

Description: Monchy-le-Preux

Connected by: Jeremy102799

Source information

ID: 9092925

Title: 4939/241449 Pte Paul McInnes Gray

Description: 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.

Connected by: James112586

Additional: The Chaplain wrote; "It may comfort you to know that he was highly esteemed by his comrades. He has not been a long time with this battalion, but his officers have found him a very efficient soldier."

Source information

ID: 9204315

Title: 4939/241449 Pte Paul McInnes Gray

Description: De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour

Connected by: James112586

Source information

ID: 9204371

Title: WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Description: British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Connected by: James112586

Source information

ID: 9484606

Reference: 1901gbc

Title: 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: James112586

UPP: GBC/1901/0034252404

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 9651283

Title: 1911 Scotland Census

Connected by: James112586

Source information

ID: 9651964

Title: 4939/241449 Pte Paul McInnes Gray.

Description: 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.

Connected by: James112586

Additional: Pte Gray is positioned in the photo wearing a plain black Glengarry: 3rd Row from the front (standing) - 2nd in from our left hand side. The building these soldiers are standing outside of has been nicknamed the "Fear Nought Hotel," which is barely legible on our right hand side, chalked above shoulder level with the rear most soldier in the doorway. This could be an allegory of the motto on the regimental cap badge of 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders - "Sans Peur" or "Without Fear".