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Richard Ventrice Bray

Richard V. Bray [578] on our direct line was born in County Durham in 1891. He served in the Army between 1914 and 1919

He enlisted on 14 November 1916 for military service aged 24 years 4 months having been a miner at Heworth colliery, Felling Co. Durham. He joined the Army Service Coy Remounts AA as a Strapper looking after the harness and the grooming the horses.

Richard went to France from Southampton aboard the SS Caledonian and was based at Rouex. He spent some time in hospital at Gournay before returning to England to be treated in hospital at Woolwich between 21 October to 13 November 1916. He was then transferred to the 83rd Training Reserve Battalion of the Labour Corps. He stayed in England until 27 April 1918 when he left from Folkstone for Boulogne with the 713 Labour Coy  but again had to spend time in hospital in Rouex between 21 May and 18 Jul 1818 when he rejoined his Company. He returned to the U.K. and was discharged from Ripon on the 6th March 1919. He first returned to mining and later became a small holder. During his service he suffered gas poisoning and dysentery and was bitten by a horse. He spent 1 year 162 days in France and served a total of 4 years 12 days

Richard was awarded three medals the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

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