John Murray Gray

Killed in Action on the 12/09/1916 around Contalmaison, Somme

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The Division were involved in the Battle of Pozieres, 23rd July - 3rd September 1916. John fell when his Battalion were being held in reserve at Contalmaison on the 12/09/1916. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1916. The Division were preparing to capture Martinpuich on the 15/09/1915 which they did. The Division was allotted 4 tanks. This was part of The Battle of Flers-Courcelette (part of the Battles of the Somme) 15th - 22th September 1916 : This was a large-scale general renewal of the offensive after the weeks of attritional fighting for the third German system at Pozieres, High Wood, Delville Wood, Guillemont and Ginchy. It is historically noteworthy for being the first time that tanks were used in battle. Few in number, mechanically unreliable and as yet without proven tactics for their best use, the small numbers of tanks that actually went into action had an important positive effect. High Wood and Delville Wood were finally cleared and a deep advance was made to Flers and towards Combles. The Canadian Corps entered the Somme fighting for the first time. John was only 2 months in France when he was killed. John is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour (see photos). John was reburied in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, the Dunoon War Memorial, John's name on the Dunoon War Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Reburial Form, John's Pension Records x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 25 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK FROM 27th JUNE - SEPTEMBER 1916, the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died ), Newspaper clippings x 5 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2), another photo of John's grave, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery taken by myself in July 2023 and a Poppy Cross placed by myself at John's grave in July 2023 (see main grave photo).