Harry William Gay (1896 - 1917)

Born 28 Feb 1896 in Wiggenhall St Germans, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Died 30 Nov 1917 at age 21 in Cambrai, Louveral, France

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Harry Gay was born in Norfolk, England.

Biography

Harry William Gay was born on February 28 1896 at Wiggenhall St. Germans, Norfolk, England.^[1] He was the son of Robert Gay and Lizzy Hills. Harry was baptised at Wiggenhall St. Germans on March 29, 1896. ^[2] In 1901 he was living at home with his parents and two older siblings. ^[3]

In 1911 he was still living at home in Wiggenhall St. Germans, with his parents and older brother. His only sister had already left home to work in Leicester. Harry was working as a farm labourer.^[4]

Harry joined the Norfolk Regiment in the first World War. He fought and died in France.^[5]
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provided the following information about him in a private letter. Private Harry William Gay, 15555, serving with "D" Company, 9th Battalion , Norfolk Regiment, died on 30th November 1917, aged 21. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Ann Gay of St. German's, Kings Lynn. Sadly he has no known grave and therefore he is commemorated by name, along with others from his regiment on Panel 4 on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France.^[6] Louverval is a village on the north side of the main road from Bapaume, 11 kilometres and Cambrai 16 kilometres. The Cambrai Memorial stands on a terrace above the Louverval Military Cemetery, which is situated on the north side of the village. ^[7] Harry is also remembered on the memorial in the Churchyard at Wiggenhall St. Germans.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Name Harry William Gay Registration Year 1896 Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar Registration district Downham Inferred County Norfolk Volume 4b Page 340 Cited on: https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl
   Also see Image 1 for his birth certificate
2. ↑ FS England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941 Name Harry William Gay Principal England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941 Events Baptism 29 March 1856 Norwich Norfolk England Father Robert Gay Mother Elizabeth Ann Citing this Record "England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1MY-V52 : 7 November 2020), Harry William Gay, 1896. (The image attached to this record showed transcripts from Wiggenhall St. Germans but Harry was not listed on the page)
3. ↑ FS 1901 Census Name: Harry W Gay Event Type: Census Event Date: 31 Mar 1901 Event Place: Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom County: Norfolk Civil Parish: Wiggenhall St German Ecclesiastical Parish: Wiggenhall St German Wit St Peter Sub-District: Wiggenhall Registration District: Downham Gender: Male Age: 5 Relationship to Head of Household: Son Birth Year (Estimated): 1896 Birthplace: St Germans, Norfolk Schedule Type: 74 Page Number: 10 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Robert Gay Head M 41 St Germans, Norfolk Elizabeth A Gay Wife F 41 St Marys, Norfolk John Robert Gay Son M 17 St Germans, Norfolk Bertha Gay Daughter F 13 St Germans, Norfolk Harry W Gay Son M 5 St Germans, Norfolk Citing this Record "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSFT-3CH : 21 May 2019), Harry W Gay in household of Robert Gay, Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Wiggenhall subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ England Census 1911 Name Harry Gay Age in 1911 15 Estimated Birth Year abt 1896 Relation to Head Son Gender Male Birth Place St Germans, Norfolk Civil parish Wiggenhall St German and Wiggenhall St Mary County/Island Norfolk Country England Street Address St Germans, Kings Lynn, Norfolk Occupation Farm Labourer Registration district Downham Registration District Number 237 Sub-registration district Wiggenhall ED, institution, or vessel 8 Household schedule number 111 Piece 11667 Household Members Name Age Robert Gay 51 Elizabeth Gay 51 John Gay 27 Harry Gay 15
5. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission Soldiers Died In The Great War 1914-1919 First name(s) Harry William Last name Gay Service number 15555 Rank Private Regiment Norfolk Regiment Battalion 9th Battalion. Residence - Birth place St. German's, Norfolk Enlistment place Norwich, Norfolk Death year 1917 Death day 30 Death month 11 Cause of death Killed in action Death place France & Flanders Theatre of war Western European Theatre Supplementary Notes - Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory First World War Collections from Great Britain, UK None Soldiers Died in the Great War database © Naval and Military Press Ltd 2010
6. ↑ See Image 2
7. ↑ War Dead/Casualty First name(s) Harry William Last name Gay Birth year 1896 Age 21 Death year 1917 Death date 30 Nov 1917 Number 15555 Rank Private Unit "d" Coy. 9th Bn. Regiment Norfolk Regiment Grave reference Panel 4. Cemetery or memorial Cambrai Memorial, Louverval Burial country France Additional information Son of Robert and Elizabeth Ann Gay, of St. Germans, King's Lynn. Link https://https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1753108/HARRY%20WILLIAM%20GAY/
   Confirmed by
   FMP War First World War, 1914-1918 Record set Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt Of Honour Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory First World War Collections from Great Britain, UK None Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards First name(s) Harry William Last name Gay Year 1914-20 Service number 15555 Rank Private Regiment Norfolk Regiment Service record Soldier Number: 15555, Rank: Private, Corps: Norfolk Regiment Country Great Britain Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D2743648 Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 Archive reference WO372/7 Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Medal Rolls and Honours Collections from Great Britain, UK None Cited on https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM/MCI/1756861
8. ↑ See image 3