PERCY BRAY 9th Bn.

[The Colonel]

Hi,
I'm a bit puzzled about Percy Bray of the Ashton Territorials - I thought perhaps someone on the forum might have the answer I seek?

Percy Bray's obituary was reported in the Ashton Reporter in which it states that he was a NCO (Sgt).
His MIC states that he was Acting Sergeant.
His gravestone, which I photographed last week at Gorre British & Indian Cemetery, records him as a Private.

Is it possible that in death Percy Bray was demoted back to the rank of Private?
Would he not be demoted from Acting Sergeant to Corporal? 

I'm extremely puzzled ... Hope someone can help!



Published in the Reporter 12th May 1917.

POPULAR TERRITORIAL N.C.O.

HIT BY A STRAY SHELL WHILE GOING TO SEE THE DOCTOR.

An official confirmation of the news, which had reached her from another source of the death of her son, Sergeant (2441) 350826 PERCY BRAY, has been received by Mrs Bray of 93, Grosvenor Street, Ashton.

Sgt. BRAY was killed in action on April 18th, presumably by a stray shell whilst he was going to see the doctor.

Sgt. BRAY had an exemplary character, and was one of the most popular NCO's in the 2/9th Manchester Regiment which he joined in September 1914. He made himself an efficient drill instructor and did good work at both Southport and Cressborough. He was 39 years of age and unmarried. He formerly worked as a Minder at the Minerva Spinning Co. and had attended St. Peters Church.

The Colonel.

[harribobs]

an NCO can be a corporal, acting sergeant, sergeant etc., my understanding is that an acting sergeant is a corporal 

[mack]

hiya colonel.
hes listed as a pte,in SDGW,if its true about his exemplary character,then theres only one reason,why hes been reduced to a pte,it was at his own request,he may have been stuck at the training camp in england,but wanted to go and fight,if the battalion,had its full compliment of sgts,then he would have to revert back to pte,to go with the next draft.

mack

[themonsstar]

Acting rank is an appointment, it can be paid or unpaid but it does what it says, acting, usually the reason for this is because there are no sergeants available to fill the slot. In this case, it looks like there was no CPl/Lcpls to move up , so they promoted a private to acting Sgt.

From the medal roll.

350886 Pte. Percy Bray A/Sgt. 2/9th Bn.

[The Colonel]

Cheers for the replies chaps... you've been most helpful. I was wondering whether the inscription of the rank of Private might have been made in error by the CWGC. There is a photo of Percy wearing his Sgt stripes here http://ashtonpals.webs.com/1917page2.htm

I've already contacted the CWGC regarding an error that I found on Drummer Edward Hodgkinson's headstone at Gorre. CWGC details are below - along with a photo of the grave. His initial is wrong!

HODGKINSON, EDWARD
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Drummer
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd/9th Bn.
Date of Death: 13/04/1917
Service No: 350908
Additional information: Son of Mrs. M. Beaumont, of 2, Conways Buildings, Hollings St., Stalybridge, Cheshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. C. 6.
Cemetery: GORRE BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERY

The Colonel.

[lock17west]

Reply to The Colonel re post of 19 June 2009:

HODGKINSON, EDWARD 350908
2nd/9th Bn. Manchester Regiment
Date of Death: 13/04/1917

Published in "The Ashton-under-Lyne Reporter" 28th April 28 1917:
ASHTON TERRITORIAL. STRETCHER BEARER SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS.
News has been received of the death, through wounds received in action, of Stretcher Bearer (Drummer) 350908  EDWARD HODGKINSON,  son of the late Mr. James Hodgkinson and Mrs Maria Hodgkinson of 8 and 10, Corporation Street, Stalybridge. He joined the 2/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment early in 1915, and had been with them at Colchester until they left for France a few weeks ago. He attended Albion Sunday School, where he was a teacher for many years. He had been a member of the Boys Life Brigade since it's formation, and was a most energetic worker, and formed one of the squad who won the J.W.Kenworthy Ambulance Shield. Much sympathy is felt for his mother and family in their sorrow. He was held in esteem by all his many friends, and will be greatly missed.
Captain GORDON WHITEHEAD, Medical Officer of the 2/9th has written to Mrs Hodgkinson as follows: - "I feel it my duty to write to you to say how very much I deplore the sad fate of your son Eddie. He was one of my most capable stretcher bearers, which believe me, is saying a great deal. I have, through long contact with the men of this unit, come to look upon them, more especially the bearers, as my brothers. He, with the rest of them, was always willing, always cheerful, and always anxious to render what aid he could towards the wounded or the sick. His work of mercy was always thorough, and he spared himself no physical discomfort to see his work was quickly and efficiently done."

Edward Hodgkinson was born in Stalybridge and lived there until at least 1901, then he moved to Ashton-under-Lyne. He is commemorated on the Stalybrdge and Ashton-under-Lyne War Memorials, and on the Albion Church War Memorial.