203402 Pte Harry Hubert Grayston died of wounds

Son of Bessie J Grayston of Handford Villa, 1 Dillwyn St., Ipswich, and the late Harry Grayston.

Harry Grayston was a bookmaker from Ipswich who was rolled up for service on the 15th March 1916. He was posted to the 3/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (number 5110) and then transferred to the 1/8th Battalion on the 11th July 1916 and then posted to the 1/5th Battalion on his arrived at the 14th Infantry Base Depot.

Harry was renumbered 203402 during the 1917 Territorial Force renumbering in March 1917. Note: although this falls within the block allocated to the 5th Battalion (200001 - 240000) it is likely that a special series was used for men transferred in from other N & D TF Battalions.

Harry was wounded on the 24th June 1917 and admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance and 18th Casualty Clearing Station. At this time the 1/5th Battalion attacked and captured AHEAD and ADMIRAL TRENCHES and Harry was one of 9 men wounded during this action.

Harry retured to the 1/5th Battalion but suffered a GSW in the face and neck and died of his wounds 15 days later in the 7 General Hospital at St Omer. He is buried in LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY.

At the time of his wounding the 1/5th Battalion were occupying the front line trenches in the HILL 70 Right Sub Sector. Harry was one of 5 men killed that month.