Edmund Alfred Wray postman and veteran of two World Wars. Part 2

Details about his life

A.E. Wray WW1 Joining up documents front

Janet Walden

A.E. Wray WW1 Joining up documents back

Janet Walden

A.E. Wray WW2 PayBook

Janet Walden

A.E. Wray WW2 relatives

Janet Walden

A.E. Wray WW2 discharge certificate

Janet Walden

Janet Walden the Chair of the Canvey Archive passed images of some military records across to us that belonged to Edmund Alfred Wray. We have used these along with some records from Ancestry to piece together these facts about his life.

Mr Wray was born on the 12th February 1899 in Battersea to William Thomas Wray and Mary Ann Kate Wray (Bean). He grew up in Battersea and had two brothers and two sisters.

WW1 Record

He joined up on the 7th July 1915 and claimed as far as we can see that he was 19 years and 6 months old. In reality, he was just 16 years and 5 months old. It was not unusual during the First World War that no checks were made on age. At the time Mr Wray was a plumber’s mate.

He joined the 13th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment which despite the name was formed in Wandsworth on the 28th August 1915 (up until 1889 Wandsworth had formed part of Surrey). He performed various duties for the Battalion including studying at the Brigade Signalling School and passing the exam to become as Trained Signaller First Class on the 25th March 1918.

In April 1918 he was drafted to France where he took part in the fighting on the Somme and other engagements. He was severely wounded (probably a gunshot wound to his right buttock) and invalided home. On his complete recovery he was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the East Kent Regiment (Buffs). He was demobilised on the 5th June 1919 as a private.

Although he joined in 1915, he was not entitled to the 1914-15 Star as he had not served abroad during those years. He did get the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Interwar Years

After the war he got married to Beatrice Margaret Topp and in 1925 their only child Edmund William Robert Wray was born.

Mr Wray enlisted in the Territorial Army on the 31st May 1934 and according to the British Postal Service Appointments Book he became a postman in 1935, supported by the picture in part 1.

WW2 Record

He was recalled to active service on the 16th May 1940 into the Royal Signals. He already had the rank of Sergeant in the Territorial Army so joined the Royal Signals with that rank, By the 18th June 1942 he had the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS).

He was a lineman Instructor from the 17th May 1940 until !4th August 1940. He was then transferred to running the stores, as CQMS until the end of the war.

His Service ended on the 4th July 1945 when he was discharged with Military Conduct ranking of “Exemplary” with a Testimonial of “Reliable Quartermaster”.