Richard Ventres BRAY

See also

Richard BRAY's parents: William BRAY (1861-aft1916) and Isabella Watson LIDDELL (1861- )

Richard BRAY (1891-1961)


Richard Ventres BRAY, 1961, age 70	Richard Ventres BRAY, 1946, age 55	Richard Ventres BRAY, 1961, age 70

Richard Ventres BRAY [578], son of William BRAY (1861-aft1916) [835] and Isabella Watson LIDDELL (1861- ) [836], was born on 22 June 1891 in Windy Nook, Co. Durham. He appeared in the census on 31 March 1901 in Felling, Co. Durham. Richard V BRAY 9 from Windy Nook was living with his parents. Richard was a miner in Felling. He appeared in the census on 2 April 1911 in Heworth, Co. Durham. On 2 April 1911 he was a coalminer putter. He served in the Army Service Corps from 16 November 1914 to 17 November 1916 in France. Within a month of enlisting he was sent to France. Sailing from Southhampton on the SS Caledonian for Havre on 10 December. In France he was a strapper attached to the 5 Ad Remount Depot. A strapper was a junior in a stable who strapped the harness on the horses, hence the name. He had a weeks leave between 30 April and 6 May 1916. On 11 June 1916 he was admitted to hospital in Gournay suffering from a horse bite. He rejoined his unit on the 5 July but was bask in the hospital on the 16th. On 10 August he was moved to Rouex and rejoined on 5 September. He wasn't with the unit very long before on 19 October he returned to England where he spent 23 days in the Royal Hospital, Woolwich before being transferred. Richard served in the 83rd Leicesters from 17 November 1916 to 14 July 1917. He was in the Training Reserve Battalion. Richard married Ethel LEWIS [625] on 9 December 1916 in Heworth. He served in the 497th HS Employment Regiment from 14 July 1917 to 21 February 1918. On 2 February he was in the Labourer Centre in Ripon before being transferred. Richard served in the 297th Resereve Labour Company from 21 February 1918 to 29 April 1918. He had leave with a free warrent on 11 April 1918 before sailing from Folkstone to Boulogne where he was posted to the 713th Labour company. Richard served in the 713th Labour Company from 29 April 1918 to 26 November 1918 in France. He had another spell in hospital with dysentry. On his return to Britain he was transfered to class P reserve and discharged 6 March 1919 as being surplus to requirements and was awarded the Victory, British and 1915 star medals. In 1930 (estimated) Richard was resident in Felling. He was a Smallholder in Eaglescliffe, Co. Durham. He was on the dole in Gateshead before becoming a smallholder. Richard was resident in Eaglescliffe. He died of Cerebral taromkis/atheroma on 2 October 1961 in Preston on Tees, Co. Durham. He was buried on 5 October 1961 in Preston on Tees. This was 2 days after the Harvest Festival.

His middle name was given as Ventres on his birth certificate, Victor on his marriage certificate, Veatrice on his death certificate and Ventress on his wife's death certificate. His daughter Ethel said it was Vincent.

Ethel LEWIS [625], daughter of Joseph LEWIS (1867- ) [834] and Ann AMOS (1864- ) [207], was born on 13 July 1893 in Spennymoor, Co. Durham. She appeared in the census on 31 March 1901 in Felling. Ethel LEWIS 7 from Spennymoor was living with parents. Ethel appeared in the census on 2 April 1911 in Felling. On 2 April 1911 she was a dressmaker. She died on 27 December 1981 in Stockton on Tees, Co. Durham. She was buried on 31 December 1981 in Preston on Tees. She and Richard Ventres BRAY had the following children:

	Gabrielle BRAY (1919-2004) [4262]. Gabrielle was born on 26 September 1919 in Felling. From 1919 to 1958 she was resident in Felling. She stayed with Grandmother LEWIS when rest of family moved to Stockton when she was about 16yr working in wholesaler. Albert moved in when they married and took over the house when the grandmother died since they had lived there for so long. They had to move when the house was condemned because of the likelihood of flooding. From 1958 to 2000 Gabrielle was resident in Gateshead, Co. Durham. From 2000 to 2004 she was resident in Gateshead. She died on 6 April 2004 in Gateshead. She was cremated on 14 April 2004 in Gateshead. The notice in local paper said she died peacefully in hospital April 6th, age 84 years and that Gabrielle (Gaby) was the dearly loved wife of the late Albert, much loved mam of Anne and Robert, a dear mother-in-law of Pat and the late Adam, also a loving nana to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
	Isabella BRAY (1921-2001) [4278] (known as 'Ella'). Ella was born on 17 August 1921 in Felling. She died on 3 October 2001.
	Ethel BRAY [405]
	William BRAY [4279]
	Norman BRAY [4281]
	Margaret Ellen BRAY [4299] (known as 'Peggy')
	Richard BRAY (1933-1933) [4298]. Richard was born Q1 1933 in Gateshead Reg Dist, Co. Durham. He died Q1 1933 in Gateshead Reg Dist.
	Maurice Lewis BRAY (1935-1944) [4273]. Maurice was born Q4 1935 in Gateshead Reg Dist. He died in June 1944 in Eaglescliffe. He was buried on 30 June 1944 in Preston on Tees.