Charlie Wray
Charles/Charlie Wray was Alfred and Emily’s second son, was born on 13 August 1884.
There is a note in Preston School log book, dated 11 April 1895, that he failed his writing examination
on 11 April 1895.
In 1901, he was a ploughman on a farm. Ten years later, in 1911, he was a groom living in one room
at Hedge Grove Stables, Alderham, near Watford.
About three weeks after the outbreak of World War One, Charles enlisted as a private in the
Bedfordshire First Regiment (Reg No. 7708) on 16 August 1914. In September 1915, The Hitchin
Parish News reported that he was ‘now in England, having suffered terribly from gases, and is still
very ill’. He was transferred to the Bedfordshire Territorial Force (Reg No. 201481) where he served
as an Acting Corporal. He was demobbed on 20 February 1920 after receiving the 1914-15 Star;
General Service Medal and Victory Medal.
In the meantime, Charles had met and married Annie Martin in the summer of 1919. The couple
settled in Abbots Langley, near Watford, Herts where they had a daughter, Blanche E Wray (born
1920) and a son, William C Wray (1923). In 1921, they were living with Annie’s parents at
4 Adrian Road, Abbotts Langley, Herts. Charles was working as a kitchen man in Leavesden Asylum,
Kings Langley:
Charles died in the Watford area, possibly Adrian Road, Abbotts Langley, in the summer of 1944.
In 1939 (see below), Charles and Annie were still living in Adrian Road
(No 42, shown right) and Charles was an assistant cook in a hospital -
which may even be the asylum of 1921.
