A SUPERB BOER WAR & WW1 (CANADIAN)CASUALTY GROUP OF FOUR QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA & KING’S SOUTH AFRICA PAIR,
“TALANA”-“DEFENCE of LADYSMITH”-“LAING’s NEK”-“BELFAST”
4746 Pte E.J.RAY 1st LEICESTER REGIMENT
With WW1 (Canadian Casualty) Pair. To:
453765. Sgt E.J. RAY. “58th Bn CANADIAN INFANTRY (Central Ontario Regiment)”
(A BATTLE OF FLERS-COURCELETTE)”MOUQUET FARM” CASUALTY
To:
453765. Sgt ERNEST JOHN RAY.
KILLED IN ACTION at MOUQUET FARM, SOMME. 17th SEPTEMBER 1916.
[THE MEDALS]
“All Officially Impressed”
Queen’s South Africa Medal
TALANA, DEFENCE of LADYSMITH, LAING’S NEK, BELFAST.
4746 Pte E.J. RAY. 1: LEIC: REGt
King’s South Africa Medal SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902.
4746 Pte E.J. RAY. LEICESTER. REGt
War & Victory Medals:
453765 SGT E.J. RAY. 58-CAN. INF.
[BIOGRAPHY] 13th January 1878 - 17th September 1916 (38)
Ernest John Ray was born in 1878 in Braintree, Essex, England. Prior to enlistment into the 1st Bn LEICESTER Regt at Warley aged 18yrs 6mths on 8th August 1896 had worked as a Blacksmith.
VERY CLEAR “GHOST DATES” on REVERSE of QSA He had a very exciting 5 year period of service in South Africa during the Boer War when he served in the four important actions at TALANA , DEFENCE of LADYSMITH, LAING’s NEK & BELFAST. He was married to Lily Ray (nee Bentley) at the Parish Church, Braintree on 14th September 1907.
He served for a total of exactly 12 years with an initial discharge on 7th August 1908.
[EMIGRATION TO CANADA]
Some time after 1908, he and his wife Lily emigrated for a new life in Canada where he resumed his career as an Ironworker in Toronto. His initial address was 11 Silver Avenue, Toronto, with a later move by his wife to 115 Wheeler Avenue. Mrs Ray later remarried and became Mrs L Beatrup and moved back to England with an address 19 Grange Road, Strood, near Rochester in Kent.
On 31st August 1915 he is again seen attesting for Great War service as 453765. Pte E.J. RAY in the 58th Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) at Toronto. He was at the time of his Canadian army attestation, a fairy senior man of 37 years, but for some reason he understated his previous period of army service with the Leicester’s as 7 years, rather than the correct 12 years.
[TO ENGLAND & ONWARD TO FRANCE]
After about three months of basic & refresher training in Canada, he and his unit embarked at HALIFAX for England on 22nd November 1915 in the Cunard Liner SS SAXONIA. The unit arrived in England on 2nd December 1915. His wife Lily never saw him again.
Ernest made his soldier’s will at Bramshot Camp on 19th February 1916 a copy of which is shown here. On 22nd February 1916 he arrived in France in time for the “Big Push” on the Somme where they formed part of 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.
After being promoted to Corporal at Bramshot Camp on 1st January 1916 & to Sergeant in the field on 7th August 1916, Ernest took part in the initially successful “B Coy” attack on MOUQUET FARM on 16th September 1916, but after a very rapid German counter attack on 17th, the farm which is just south west of COURCELETT was retaken.
It was during this rapid German counter attack that Sgt Ray lost his life. He was older than most at 38 years. His body was never recovered and he has no known grave.
A very sad end we feel for a proud older soldier & Ladysmith Defender who proudly served in two major wars and made the ultimate sacrifice in The Great War.
The life of ERNEST JOHN RAY is commemorated with eternal honour on the VIMY MEMORIAL.
The group comes with a full set of Boer War & Great War (Canadian) attestation papers & confirming medal rolls.
This is a very unusual, exceptional & highly desirable BOER WAR / GREAT WAR, Canadian Casualty Quad, with a rare and greatly outstanding QSA which carries a very scarce four clasp combination including the illusive TALANA clasp along with DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH.
£2250 with Part Exchanges Welcome
(A BATTLE OF FLERS-COURCELETTE)”MOUQUET FARM” CASUALTY
To:
453765. Sgt ERNEST JOHN RAY.
KILLED IN ACTION at MOUQUET FARM, SOMME. 17th SEPTEMBER 1916.
[THE MEDALS]
“All Officially Impressed”
Queen’s South Africa Medal 
King’s South Africa Medal SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902.
4746 Pte E.J. RAY. LEICESTER. REGt
War & Victory Medals:
453765 SGT E.J. RAY. 58-CAN. INF.
[BIOGRAPHY] 13th January 1878 - 17th September 1916 (38)
Ernest John Ray was born in 1878 in Braintree, Essex, England. Prior to enlistment into the 1st Bn LEICESTER Regt at Warley aged 18yrs 6mths on 8th August 1896 had worked as a Blacksmith.
VERY CLEAR “GHOST DATES” on REVERSE of QSA He had a very exciting 5 year period of service in South Africa during the Boer War when he served in the four important actions at TALANA , DEFENCE of LADYSMITH, LAING’s NEK & BELFAST. He was married to Lily Ray (nee Bentley) at the Parish Church, Braintree on 14th September 1907.
He served for a total of exactly 12 years with an initial discharge on 7th August 1908.
[EMIGRATION TO CANADA]
Some time after 1908, he and his wife Lily emigrated for a new life in Canada where he resumed his career as an Ironworker in Toronto. His initial address was 11 Silver Avenue, Toronto, with a later move by his wife to 115 Wheeler Avenue. Mrs Ray later remarried and became Mrs L Beatrup and moved back to England with an address 19 Grange Road, Strood, near Rochester in Kent.
On 31st August 1915 he is again seen attesting for Great War service as 453765. Pte E.J. RAY in the 58th Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) at Toronto. He was at the time of his Canadian army attestation, a fairy senior man of 37 years, but for some reason he understated his previous period of army service with the Leicester’s as 7 years, rather than the correct 12 years.
[TO ENGLAND & ONWARD TO FRANCE]
After about three months of basic & refresher training in Canada, he and his unit embarked at HALIFAX for England on 22nd November 1915 in the Cunard Liner SS SAXONIA. The unit arrived in England on 2nd December 1915. His wife Lily never saw him again.
Ernest made his soldier’s will at Bramshot Camp on 19th February 1916 a copy of which is shown here. On 22nd February 1916 he arrived in France in time for the “Big Push” on the Somme where they formed part of 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.
After being promoted to Corporal at Bramshot Camp on 1st January 1916 & to Sergeant in the field on 7th August 1916, Ernest took part in the initially successful “B Coy” attack on MOUQUET FARM on 16th September 1916, but after a very rapid German counter attack on 17th, the farm which is just south west of COURCELETT was retaken.
It was during this rapid German counter attack that Sgt Ray lost his life. He was older than most at 38 years. His body was never recovered and he has no known grave.
A very sad end we feel for a proud older soldier & Ladysmith Defender who proudly served in two major wars and made the ultimate sacrifice in The Great War.
The life of ERNEST JOHN RAY is commemorated with eternal honour on the VIMY MEMORIAL.
The group comes with a full set of Boer War & Great War (Canadian) attestation papers & confirming medal rolls.
This is a very unusual, exceptional & highly desirable BOER WAR / GREAT WAR, Canadian Casualty Quad, with a rare and greatly outstanding QSA which carries a very scarce four clasp combination including the illusive TALANA clasp along with DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH.
£2250 with Part Exchanges Welcome