First Name:

Martin Thompson

Initials:

M T

Surname:

Gray

Birth Town:

Sunderland

Resided Town:

Sunderland

Nationality:

British

Date of Death:

09/08/1915

Fate:

Killed in Action

Rank:

Private

Service Number:

12821

Duty Location:

France And Flanders

Campaign Medals:

1914/15 Star

Given the information we have available, it is very possible that Martin Thompson Gray was  awarded the 1914-15 star campaign medal of the British Empire for his service in World War One.

This Star is identical to the 1914 Star in every respect except that the centre scroll bears the dates “1914- 15” and the two small scrolls bearing “Aug” and “Nov” are omitted.

He would also have received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as it was not awarded singularly. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. With Pip representing either this medal or the 1914 Star, only one of which could be awarded to a soldier, Squeak represented the British War Medal and Wilfred represented the Victory Medal. Buy Medals
 
Victory Medal

Given the information we have available it is likely that Martin Thompson Gray was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible. Buy Medals
 
British War Medal

From the information available to us, it is very possible that Martin Thompson Gray was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.

The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period. Buy Medals

Service:

British Army

Regiment:

Durham Light Infantry

Durham Light Infantry during World War 1

The Regiment was awarded 67 Battle Honours, 6 Victoria Crosses and lost 12,530 men during the course of the war.

1st Battalion
04.08.1914 Stationed at Nowshera, India and remained here throughout the war.

2nd Battalion
04.08.1914 Stationed at Lichfield as part of the 18th Brigade of the 6th Division and then moved to Dunfermline and moved to Cambridge.
10.09.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at St. Nazaire and engaged in various actions on the Western front including;