In September 2009 I visited Flanders in Belgium to see the WWI battle fields and also went to visit my great grandfather’s, Edward John Ray, grave at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. It is absolutely spine chilling to walk these fields; the “Great” War must have been hell. I also visited “Hill 60”, The In Flanders Fields Museum, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Poperinge and Ypres. Ever since, I am fascinated by WWI history and from the moment I got back home in Holland I wanted to learn more, especially about Private Edward John Ray.
Over the years, I have been able to trace down some information which I provided to an organization in Belgium involved in preserving the WWI heritage .
All I know about Private Edward John Ray: www.lijssenthoek.be/en/adres/10892/-edward-john-ray.
He fought in Flanders, Belgium with the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 25th Division, 7th Brigade. His Service Number was 46267.
Louis Scully (owner & webmaster) of this WorcestershireRegiment website has been very helpful and provided the following information:
He probably enlisted in Birmingham in 1914.
From the photograph of Private EJ Ray with his family (posted on the website) Louis noticed that the army belt and buckle he is wearing on his uniform was one that was used by the British Army from 1903 to 1914. This would suggest that he enlisted in 1914 and may have been an army reservist and so was one of the first men to be called up for service in August 1914. If that is the case he would have been posted to the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and landed in France with them on the 16th August 1914 at Rouen, France. The fact that he was posted to the 3rd Battalion would also suggest he had been in the Regiment before 1914 at some time.
Still, I am searching for more information about my great grandfather, for example:
- Where did he fight and what battles did he participate in ?
- When did he get wounded ? (all I know is that he died on September 4th 1917 of multiple shell wounds on both legs and thighs in n°3 Canadian CCS)
Any additional information you can provide is very much appreciated and I hope you can help me in my search for my great grandfather’s history.
I have recently bought myself a copy of “The Worcester Regiment in the Great War” by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke and looks like a very good publication which, I am sure, will provide me information about the battles fought by 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, but of course not the specifics I am looking for about my great grandfather.
Pim Hogenes
Netherlands