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Cenotaph record

Donald Cray

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Memorial Plaque, Bank of New Zealand Arcade, Wellington (Photo Paul Hickford, 2014) - No known copyright restrictions

Memorial Plaque, Bank of New Zealand Arcade, Wellington (Photo Paul Hickford, 2014) - No known copyr …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Donald AWMM
  • Surname
    Cray AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 55585 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 May 1897 Public Source
  • Date of birth
    24 May 1897 Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
  • Place of birth
    Greymouth, West Coast, New Zealand Public - 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
    Deceased Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Bank of New Zealand Archives
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    G.S. Cray (father), Selwyn Street, Timaru, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • 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

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  • 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

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    NZ, UK and France Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    • WW1 Unknown AWMM Banker/Civilian AWMM
    • 24 April 1917 Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Military Personnel File
  • Occupation before enlistment
    On staff of Bank of New Zealand Raetihi branch. Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Bank of New Zealand Archives
  • Age on enlistment
    19 years 11 months Public - Paul - Researcher - 22 March 2015 - Researcher

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 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.' AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    29 September 1918 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
    Havrincourt, France 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

Memorials

Memorial

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  • 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

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • 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. AWMM
    • Bank of New Zealand officers who enlisted for military service in the First World War. Research completed by Paul Hickford (2014-2017). AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1918). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume III. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      72: 17 AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 4: Includes portrait AWMM
    • Roll of Honour, Auckland Province (digital copy), 1914 - 1919. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2016-2. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
22 March 2015Paul West Auckland, New ZealandResearcher

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