An 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star medal group of 3: Corporal William Cornelius Gray, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers An 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star medal group of 3: Corporal William Cornelius Gray, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers An 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star medal group of 3: Corporal William Cornelius Gray, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers An 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star medal group of 3: Corporal William Cornelius Gray, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

An 'Old Contemptibles' 1914 Star medal group of 3: Corporal William Cornelius Gray, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

- 1914 Star. No clasp (9230 Cpl. W. Gray 1/R. Sc: Fus.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (9230 Cpl. W. C. Gray. R.S.Fus.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (9230 Cpl. W. C. Gray. R.S.Fus.)

Medals verification: The medal rolls (held and accessible at The National Archives) confirm that the recipient was entitled to the 3 x Great War medals per the respective medal rolls as under;

- 1914 Star: Ref WO 329/2442
- British War Medal & Interallied Victory Medals: Ref WO 329/990

In addition to the 3 x medals, William C. Gray, was also awarded a Silver War Badge, due to sickness contracted on active service, per below source.

- Silver War Badge: Ref WO 329/3035 (awarded badge No B344545)

Note: While the SWB was sent to the recipient, he never received it, or subsequently lost it, as his Medal index Card records the SWB being found and returned by the Police, and not subsequently re-issued!

William Cornelius Gray, son of William Henry Gray, was a native of the Parish of St. Giles, Peckham, London, England, where he was born circa 1885. William, who had 4 x sisters, was the only son of William Henry Gray, and is recorded in the 1891, and 1901 National Census of England of Wales as living in London, with his father and sisters. Service papers for William C. Gray are not extant, but it is recorded that William C. Gray enlisted in the British Army, on 25 October 1906 for service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He is recorded in the 1911 National Census for England and Wales on the 'Overseas' Military listings, as serving in South Africa with 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1911. Promoted to Corporal sometime between 1911-1914, Corporal Gray first entered theatre of war 'France' on 14 August 1914 - the day that 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers landed at Le Havre (1/R.S.F. was a unit of 9th Infantry Brigade, and served with 3rd Division through to 16 February 1915, and served thereafter attached to 28th Division between 17 February to 2 April 1915). Corporal Gray is confirmed as both entitled, and having received, the dated clasp for the 1914 Star (the clasp and roses being sent to him on 31 March 1920), in respect of his services 'under fire' in the opening months of the Great War. William Gray took his final discharge from the British Army on 3 May 1915, due to 'Sickness' contracted on active service with the British Expeditionary Force (SWB Roll refers)

Condition: GF

Code: 22022