Manuscript poem 'Neuve Chapelle' by Company Sergeant Major Gray DCM, 2nd Battalion The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 1915

John Arthur Gray (1885-1917) enlisted in 1905 with 1st Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served with his unit in Britain and Ireland before transferring to the 2nd Battalion in India. In August 1914 Gray's battalion left Jhansi in India and arrived back in England in late October. It landed at Le Havre in France on 5 November 1914, a much-needed reinforcement for the hard-pressed British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In the months that followed, Gray was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and promoted to company sergeant major. He later fought at Ovillers on the Somme where his battalion was badly mauled in July 1916. He was commissioned in November 1916 for service in the field. Second Lieutenant Gray was killed in action on 4 March 1917.