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W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Re: W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Posted: 24 Apr 2015 7:26AM GMT
Classification: Query
Good morning Ross

I also have a number of items that were sent to my grandmother - the telegram, his medals and personal letters addressed to My Dear Wife, very moving.

I must say I haven't delved into the history as I was always brought up with the knowledge that he died at Gallipoli when his ship was blown up, I understand that he never got on land.

From what I am thinking I believe he joined up, reading postcards he was sent to Richmond in Yorkshire for training before moving onto Hartlepool where I presume he was then moved onto the Dardenelles. All in a short period of time.

Pleased you have got the newspaper articles of his death etc, it brings it all so close.

Pauline




Re: W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Posted: 25 Apr 2015 8:46AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Ross

I came across this thread while doing some more research on Dobson Croudace Gray - seemed an appropriate way to spend Anzac Day here in Australia.

Dobson was married to my gt-gt-aunt, Margaret Duke Wake. Margaret's brother, Stephen Duke Wake, was my gt-grandfather. What makes Dobson's death more tragic is that he was killed in action the day before the British started their evacuation from Gallipoli.

I've found some records on Ancestry but would love to know more about the Gray family & see a photo of Dobson or the family if any are available. If you're interested in the Wake side I'll be more than happy to share.

Best wishes
Allyson Wake


Re: W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Posted: 25 Apr 2015 8:59AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Wake, Gray
Hi Pauline

Margaret Duke Gray (nee Wake) was my gt-gt-aunt. Her brother, Stephen Duke Wake, was my gt-grandfather. I've been researching Dobson, as today is Anzac Day here in Australia, especially given that it's the centenary this year.

I saw on one of your messages that you have letters he wrote to Margaret. Is there any possibility I would be able to have copies of them? We have so little in the way of family photos/documents that I'd love to be able to bring another member of the family to life. Margaret's older sister, Ann Brown Wake, emigrated to Canada with her husband & I have a lot of photos of her line from our Canadian cousins, but next to nothing of those who lived & died in England.

Anything you are able to or feel comfortable with sharing would be so greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards
Allyson Wake

Re: W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Posted: 25 Apr 2015 1:11PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Allyson,

It's good to know that there are other people researching Dobson's experience, I'm in the same boat so to speak, I don't have a photograph of Dobson or any of my relatives from that era.

There is much research still to be done about the circumstances of his death and what action he was in. I've recently learnt that any men who went overseas before the end of 1915, the date and what front they landed in the battlefield is listed on their Medal Index Record. We know he landed at Gallipoli on the 28th of September 1915. 2B on his record refers to the Balkans - Gallipoli and Aegean Islands. See the attached record. If he landed on the 28th any information about what the East Yorkshire's got up to from that date until the evacuation would help us find that out. I did read that his regiment were evacuated in the 17th of December but that doesn't confirm that he was evacuated then.

I know his regiment landed at Sulva Bay on the 6 - 7th of August 1915. I haven't researched any East Yorkshire battalions landing at the 28th of September. I assume you both have the newspaper articles reporting his death?

Pauline mentioned she was told he died on a ship - this could well be one of the last evacuation ships from the beach but I am only speculating - I don't have any evidence. If a ship went down in the evacuation it surely would of been reported somewhere. The most I've read about the evacuation was that it was successful with minimal casualties.

Dobson was from a very big family (eight from what I can find) and the Gray family go back in Hendon for a very long time. More than likely he had brothers who served there are a few men who would of been of age. His father was also named Dobson Croudace Gray and was a mariner in Hendon. There are a few generations of Gray men going out to sea.

I know it is possible to purchase pension records,this may tell us more information about what action he was in. See this link - http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/all-about-the-wfa/wfa...

There isn't a service record or pension record available on Ancestry which is rather frustrating.

Lastly - Allison, you probably know - there is quite a bit of information about the Wake family available. I have a book about characters in Hendon and Henderson Wake is mentioned.

If Pauline could photograph anything related to his experience that would help us out.

Best,

Ross
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Re: W.W.1 Gallipoli Campaign service records Dobson Croudace Gray

Posted: 3 Jun 2015 6:02AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Ross,

First up, apologies for not replying sooner. No idea I'd left it so long - time just gets away and this year is flying by!

I've spent a bit of time going through the regimental War Diary, which I found here on Ancestry. Seems that Dobson and the 6th Btn arrived on 28th/29th September as reinforcements, due to high casualty rate. October thru' December seems to have been spent occupying trenches down to the beach.

Interestingly, the War Diaries for Jan-Jun 1916 are missing - this would cover the period of Dobson's death, which would most certainly have been noted, going by the notes in the 1915 War Diary. I need to go back through and do a proper timeline and see if the 1916 diary ever turned up!

I'm very interested to hear that there is a lot of info about the Wake family available. If you could recommend any books I'd love to know of them - we actually know very little about the Wake family going back, other than what I've been able to find out through other people researching the same lines.

Cheers for now,
Allyson
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