Military History

 

Greay enlisted with 11th Bn. and transferred to 28th Bn 16.2.1915 before embarkation.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 29.6.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Infantry Bde., 28th Bn. , 4th Reinf., ‘C’ Coy.
Greay disembarked in Egypt with the 28th Bn. He joined the MEF at Alexandria and embarked per HT ‘Invernia’ for Gallipoli 3.9.1915. Greay was admitted to the 13th Casualty Clearing Station at ANZAC with Influenza 21.11.1915. He returned to duty 25.11.1915. Greay was evacuated to Lemnos Island and promoted to L/Cpl. 1.1.1916. He was transferred to Alexandria per HT ‘Ansonia’ 10.1.1916. Greay joined the BEF from Alexandria for France 16.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 21.3.1916 and was made Cpl.28.3.1916. He was promoted to Sgt. 8.5.1916. The 28th Bn. took part in their first major battle in France at Pozieres in July 1916. Greay was reported missing 29.7.1916 at Pozieres France. The Court of Enquiry determined he was KIA by 29.7.1916. Greay had no known grave. He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Area, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Sgt. 28th Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Dec’d KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes B Greay was the brother of Sampson Greay. They enlisted several months apart  in the 11th Bn. together and transferred to 'C' Company 28th Bn. together. They sailed on the same ship and were KIA at Pozieres on the same day. They have a shared obituary :

‘Not dead to those that love them
Not lost, but gone before.
They live with as in memory still,
And will forever more.’
(West Australian Newspaper, In Memoriam 28.7.1917)

Photos Corporal H. Greay. The Sun 15.4.1917 p6
             HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
             Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove,Gallipoli 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans. Photograph source AWM A05763
             Ruined gardens at Pozieres 1916. Official British War photograph, photograph source AWM EZ0097
             Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph source H17454


Information Source
AWM  H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM A05763. Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove,Gallipoli 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM EZ0097. Ruined gardens at Pozieres 1916. Official British War photograph, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Herbert Greay
AWM Roll of Honour - Herbert Greay
NAA: B2455, Greay H L
The Sun
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

61 East Street, Guildford. WA.

Associated Images