Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ezra Ernest Fray, a boot and shoe trade worker, born 23rd April 1874 in Humberstone, Leicester and his wife Eliza Ann Fray (nee Cooley, married on the 30th September 1893 in St. Barnabas’s Church, Leicester), a boot and shoe trade worker, born 15th July 1875 in Leicester. Ezra Ernest was born in the 1st quarter of 1894 in St. Barnabas’s, Leicester. In April 1911 Ezra was employed as a boot and shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at 12, Merridale Road, Leicester, together with his father a boot and shoe trade worker, his mother, a boot and shoe trade worker and siblings John Thomas, a schoolboy, born 28th June 1897, in Leicester, Edith Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 21st November 1901 in Humberstone, Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 24th September 1903 in Leicester, Harry, a schoolboy, born 31st March 1907 and Ellen, born 1909, the latter two siblings were both born in Humberstone. Ezra also had the following younger siblings, Owen, born 24th February 1912, George, born 14th September 1914 and Florence Ellen, born 9th July 1917, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester.
Ezra’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 9784, and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 18th January 1915. He was awarded the 1915 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 13 May-15 – We commenced shelling about midday Germans replied fairly warm from 4 to 5 and 6 to 7.00pm. Intermittent shelling of all weights after this. Battalion left Breastworks at 8.15pm and moved as follows:-
3 Platoons “C” Company to Front Line, West of Orchard Front Trench.
1 Platoon “C” Company and “B” Company in Guards Trenches.
“D” Company and Headquarters in Breastwork just North of RUE DU BOIS.
“A” Company in Breastwork 60 yards North of above Breastwork.
On Tuesday June 8th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article – Information has been received that Private E. FRAY, of the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on May 13th. Private Fray was in his 21st year, and leaves a widow, who lives at 12, Merridale-road, Leicester.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” –MORE CASUALTIES AMONG YEOMANRY. – The following list of casualties in the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Leicestershire Regiment reported from the base under date 30th May, was issued from the War Office on Tuesday:-
KILLED.
LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY.
Clifford, 1938, Private P., Hansen, 2278, Private H. R., Moir, 1732, Lance Corporal L. J., Moore, 1678, Private D., Parker, 1478, Lance Sergeant J., Ward, 2327, Private B.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion.
Killinger, 5616, Private J.
2nd Battalion.
Abrahams, 5560, Private J. E., Alderman, 8551, Private A., Bates, 8027, Private T., Bloxam, 12571, Private W., Brown, 9952, Private E., Claydon, 8086, Corporal G., Dowling, 10285, Private A., Fletcher, 7598, Sergeant W., Fray, 9784, Private E., Houston, 9031, Private J., Johnson, 9545, Private A. E., Laxton, 8900, Lance Corporal W., Mawby, 8305, Drummer W., Mercer, 11579, Private U. J., Reveille, 9491, Private R., Richardson, 9087, Private H., Sanders, 9224, Lance Corporal T., Slater, 8331, Private H., Smith, 9199, Lance Corporal H., Toms, 9970, Private A., Weston, 10024, Sergeant T.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
2nd Battalion.
Cooper, 12306, Private F., Hughes, 8017, Private J., Mills, 8318, Private G. A., Moore, 8835, Private A., Murphy, 5859, Lance Corporal E., Upton, 9671, Private P. W.