Derrick P Bray

De Rivigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918 BRAY, DERRICK REGINALD PAMPHILON, Corpl., N. 1553, 1st Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt., (T.F.), only s. of Reginald Alfred Bray, of 49, Orlando Road, Clapham Common, S.W., formerly of Jersey, by his wife, Lissa, dau. of the late Stephen Algir Pamphilon, of Lea Hall, Hatfield Broad Oak, Harlow., co. Essex; b. Clapham Common, 20 Sept. 1895; educ. private school, and Wix's Higher Grade School; joined the 1st City of London Regt., 7 April, 1913; on the outbreak of war volunteered for foreign service, was sent to Malta for five months, and proceeded to France, 10 March, 1915. He was killed in action at Aubers Ridge, 9 May, 1915, and was buried in Rue Pettilon, near Picantin; unm. His commanding officer wrote: "At the time he was gallantly leading his section in an advance under very severe fire, and by his death, we all realise that we have lost a brave comrade, who has done his duty and whom we all miss dreadfully. His sense of duty was most real, as events have proved." Corpl. Bray was very proud of the fact that every man of his family of fighting age joined the colours early in the war. His uncle, Lieut. Ede, Royal Marine Artillery, was mentioned in Despatches while serving with the Egyptian Army in 1896.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Battersea-born Reginald Derrick Pamphilon Bray was 15 and living with his parents, sister and boarders at 54 Orlando Road, Clapham. Alfred Reginald Bray, 48, was a draper's assistant, born in Jersey in the Channel Islands. Elizabeth Ann Bray, 49, was from Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. Edith Phoebe Bray, 19, was a stationer's assistant, born in Battersea. Of the three boarders, two were married inspectors for the Customs and Excise. Humphrey Morphy, 51, was from Kerry; Fred West, 51, was from Nottingham; Robert MacKenzie, 33, was a wholesale stationer from Edinburgh. The household consisted of ten rooms.