Donald Cray
Born 24 May 1897 - Died 29 Sept 1918
- Service number
- WWI 55585 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW1 Lance Corporal/Military AWMM Auckland Infantry Regiment AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 24 May 1897 Public Source
- Date of birth
- 24 May 1897Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
- Place of birth
- Greymouth, West Coast, New ZealandPublic - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
- Birth notes
- Son of George Stephen and Mary Helen (nee McBeath) Cray.Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- DeceasedPublic - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Bank of New Zealand Archives
- Next of kin
- G.S. Cray (father), Selwyn Street, Timaru, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- —
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 55585 AWMM
- Military service
- 1 year 5 months and 5 days.Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Researcher
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
London Gazette, 11 December 1918, p14670, Rec No 2275. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field at Puisieux-au-Mont on the nights of 14th/15th August. When the Battalion was advancing against the enemy by means of a series of fighting patrols who were attacking the rearguard positions of the enemy. The party to which this man belonged had all its non-commissioned officers casualtied and the advance was temporarily hung up by the strong enemy machine gun post situated in such a position as to make impossible all communication with the troops on the right. This man assumed command of his party and led a bombing section along a completely straight section of trench which was absolutely enfiladed by the machine gun in question. His initiative and courageous action resulted, after considerable bombing, in the withdrawal of the enemy post. His handling of the men in a very critical stage of the operation was admirable, and his conduct and actions inspired the men to an extraordinary extent. Subsequently in the consolidation of the new line he rendered immense assistance until his Company was relieved some 24 hours afterwards, during which time his section of the line was subjected to intense artillery fire. AWMM - Victory Medal AWMM
- British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- NZ, UK and FrancePublic - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1 Unknown AWMM Banker/Civilian AWMM
- 24 April 1917Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
- Age on enlistment
- 19 years 11 monthsPublic - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Researcher
- Occupation before enlistment
- On staff of Bank of New Zealand Raetihi branch.Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Bank of New Zealand Archives
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 13 Oct 1917-08 Dec 1917 AWMM
HMNZT 94 AWMM Vessel was Arawa AWMM Private AWMM 30th Reinforcements, E Company AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 Unknown AWMM Lance Corporal/Military AWMM
Auckland Infantry Regiment AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Donald Cray was the son of George Stephen and Mary Helen Cray of Timaru, New Zealand.
Bank of New Zealand Staff Member.
Text of the Memorial plaque, Bank of New Zealand Arcade, Wellington, New Zealand: 'In Memoriam: The names inscribed upon this tablet are those of officers of the Bank of New Zealand who laid down their lives in the Great War AD 1914-1919 waged against the nations of central Europe - Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria - who sought by force of arms to obtain world-wide dominion. In honour of their patriotism and valour. In admiration of their sacrifice. And in grateful perpetuation of their glorious and ennobling memory this monument is reverently dedicated. Their Name Liveth for Evermore.'
Next of Kin: Mr G. S. Cray, Box 136, Timaru (Roll of Honour, Auckland Province 1914-1918 (Volume 1))
Attended Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 29 Sept 1918 AWMM
Age 21 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France AWMM
- Memorial plaque, Bank of New Zealand (Officers of the BNZ who laid down their lives in the Great War AD 1914-1919), BNZ Arcade, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM
- Waitaki Boys' High School Roll of Honour WWI 1914-1918 AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21898956
Further Reference - SCRoll profile (South Canterbury Roll of Honour)
https://museum.timaru.govt.nz/explore/scroll/profile?id=1288
Further Reference - A Street Near You record
https://astreetnearyou.org/person/1738595/-
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1738595
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- Bank of New Zealand officers who enlisted for military service in the First World War. Research completed by Paul Hickford (2014-2017).
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1918). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume III. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
72: 17 - Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 4: Includes portrait - Roll of Honour, Auckland Province (digital copy), 1914 - 1919. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2016-2.
- Burton, O. (1922). The Auckland regiment : being an account of the doings on active service of the First, Second and Third Battalions of the Auckland Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Whitcombe & Tombs.
- McDonald, K. C. (1958). A history of Waitaki Boys’ High School, 1883-1958. Christchurch [N.Z.] : Whitcombe and Tombs.
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