Name: Colin Crawford Gray Regimental Number: 223401 Rank: Private Battalion: 85th Battalion Date of Birth: December 14, 1895 Place of Birth: Sambro, Halifax Co., NS Date of Enlistment: February 2, 1916 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS. Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Age at Enlistment: 20 Height: 5 feet, 9 inches Complexion: Medium Eye Colour: Brown Hair Colour: Light Brown Trade: Student Marital Status: Single Religion: Methodist Next of Kin: James F. Gray (Father) Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Date of Death: September 21, 1916 Cause of Death: Tuberculosis Age at Death: 20 Cemetery: Mountain Cemetery, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Listed on the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia War Memorial Colin was the son of James Stewart Gray (1855-1924) and Estella (Hamm) Gray (1865-1915), of Albert St., Yarmouth NS. The family had moved from Sambro, Halifax Co., NS to Yarmouth. Estella Gray died in April, 1915, from tuberculosis. Colin’s brother, James Ray Vernon Gra, borni 1892, also died of tuberculosis on May 14, 1916. Having graduated from the Yarmouth Academy Colin attended Mount Allison University were he obtained an Engineering Certificate, graduating with high honours. The Mount Allison yearbook spoke of him, as “a quiet, unassuming lad, immune to fashion, freak, or fad”. In September, 1915, he entered McGill University and enrolled in the course leading to a Bachelor of Science; however, he returned home in January 1916 and enlisted with the 85th Battalion. During training with the 85th Battalion he became ill suffering from Chronic Bronchitis and was hospitalized at the Station Hospital, Halifax. In March of 1916 he was granted sick leave, and was again hospitalized. On March 29, 1916 a Medical Board was held at Yarmouth, NS to review his medical condition. The Board found him to be suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The Board considered his condition to have been aggravated by service and recommended he be sent to a sanatorium for treatment. He became a patient in the Ste. Agathe Military Sanatorium, Quebec. He was given a Medical Discharge on August 30, 1916 in consequence of medical unfitness due to tuberculosis and having refused further treatment. He returned home to Yarmouth where he died on September 21, 1916. The military would not approve a military funeral. Death from illness away from base did not at that time allow for a military funeral, a policy later revised. The services for Private Gray were held at Providence Church, Yarmouth. The procession to Mountain Cemetery was headed by the Yarmouth Concert Band. While not officially a military funeral, the motor hearse was draped with the British ensign while a Union Jack enshrouded the casket. The bearers were Privates Harvey Eldridge, Karl Baker, Carl Crosby, and Lincoln Levitt. Carl Crosby and James Harvey Eldridge would become casualties of the war. Karl Baker would be twice wounded during World War I, the second occasion being when the rail yard at Arras was bombed by an enemy plane. Sources: Library and Archives Canada (Attestation Paper) Additional Information: “A Monument Speaks” A Thurston; 1989 (pp 194-196)

Colin Crawford Gray