FOXTON BOY HONOURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1663, 18 January 1917, Page 2

FOXTON BOY HONOURED.

FOR CONSPICUOUS BEHAVIOUR

Amongst those who had the honour of receiving a -Military Medal and a stripe for conspicuous behaviour on the Somme front is Corporal W. A. Gray, son of Mr W. Gray, of the Tourist Department (and late of the Post Ollice Hotel, Foxton). He is serving with the Ist Battalion, Wellington infantry Regiment. Cor]). Gray is an ex-Foxton school boy, and was also connected with our staff. His Foxton mates ( some of whom are now in the tiring line) will be pleased to hear of the honour conferred upon him. As we previously pointed out, “Alex'.” has the honour of being one of the youngest soldiers in New Zealand who offered his services for King and country. He has now had three birthdays and three Christmases on active service. Having joined the first Expeditionary Force for Samoa, he served the full time there, and had his eighteenth birthday and first Christmas in the trenches. After coming back from Samoa he had a month’s spell in Wellington, then left with the sth Reinforcements, and was at the disastrous landing at Suvla Bay, where nearly the whole of his platoon were either killed or wounded. He was at the evacuation of Gallipoli, and then after a stay in Egypt left, for France, where he has now passed his twentieth birthday and third Christmas. He has been in several trench raids, and was at the capture of Flers, where the New Zealanders proved themselves of some mettle, and through the whole lot has not had a scratch. ,