Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Gregory, a farm teamster, born 1858 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Gregory (nee Wright, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Packington, Leicestershire. William Edward was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Hungarton, Leicestershire, in March 1901 he was residing in The Post Office, Hungarton, this being the family home of his widowed maternal Grandmother, Charlotte Wright, the Sub Post Mistress, born 1833 in Billesdon, Leicestershire. In April 1911 William was employed as a farm labourer and was residing at the Post Office Hungarton, together with his widowed maternal Grandmother, father, a general labourer and his mother.
The War Diary records: 7 Jan-16 - At 11.12am orders were received that the attack would shortly be renewed on both banks. In the meantime enemy’s line was subjected to bombardment from 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. Orders were received to renew the attack at 2.00pm, the Battn moving forward as soon as 53rd SIKHS were seen to leave their trenches. The 92nd PUNJABIS had now been attached to the Bde to support the attack on the left of the Battn. A and B Coy’s advanced in short sharp rushes, supported by C Coy, D Coy being kept close up in reserve under cover. The advance progressed in spite of very strong opposition and D Coy was thrown in, the whole Battn finally carrying out the assault successfully over about 300 yards. Two of the Battn machine guns pushed along the nullah X Y towards X, greatly assisted the advance in first enfilading Turkish trench P and later distributing their fire along trench Q. The Battn was splendidly supported throughout by one section of the 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, the F.O.O. advancing with his telephone immediately in rear of the Battn. The enemy’s trenches were occupied and quickly put in a state of defence, while, from both ends of these trenches a line of entrenchments was extended for some considerable distance, the left flank being well turned back. About 80 prisoners were taken by the Battn, and a large quantity of rifles, ammunition, equipment etc. Many dead and wounded Turks were found in the trenches. The Battn buried 62 enemy dead on its section of trenches. Enemy sniped to some extent during the night from our left flank. The following casualties among officers occurred during this days operations. Officers killed Lt DOWDING and Lt ROYCE. Wounded Capt SUTHERLAND, 2nd Lt BILLINGS, 2nd Lt BELLE and 2nd Lt BUCKINGHAM. Other ranks killed and wounded on operations of the 6th and 7th January totalled 303.
On Friday February 11th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – HUNGARTON SOLDIER KILLED. Official news has been received by his parents of the death during the fighting on the Persian Gulf, about the 6th or 7th January, of Private W. E. Gregory, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Gregory, of Hungarton. Private Gregory, who was electrician at Baggrave Hall, the residence of Captain Burnaby, enlisted early last year, and at the time of his death was attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Leicesters. He was 22 years of age.