Willie Leslie Gray was born on 17th July 1885. In 1901, he was working as a clerk for a corn and coal merchant. In 1906, he joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and on the regiment’s disbandment, due to the Haldane reforms in 1908, Willie joined its successor, the Woodbridge Company of the 4th (Territorial) Battalion Suffolk Regiment on 10th April that year. Destined to become a vital member of the Woodbridge Company, Willie rose through the ranks to become Company Quarter Master Sergeant. In 1912, Willie married Mary Webb and their first child was born in March 1914.

On Sunday 2nd August 1914, Willie Leslie and the 4th Suffolks arrived in Great Yarmouth for an annual training camp, only to receive orders that due to the impending declaration of war, they were to break camp and return to civilian life. Despite this, the senior officers decided to keep the men together so they could be ready for mobilisation if required. Willie and others from the Woodbridge Company returned home late on Monday afternoon and over the next two days were seen around Woodbridge in their khaki uniforms.

On Tuesday 4th August at 20:00, The King’s Proclamation was posted at Post Offices in and around Woodbridge: all regular army, special reserves and territorials were called to war. The following day, Woodbridge Company travelled by train to their war station at Felixstowe, where they were billeted at the Golf Course. After that, they were sent to Shenfield and then Severalls, near Colchester, for training until they received mobilisation orders for France on 5th November. Willie remained in England on Home Service.

On 1st April 1916, he received the Territorial Efficiency Medal for twelve years service (war years counting double). Willie returned to civilian life once the war was over and in 1939, he and his family were living in Lower Brook Street in Ipswich. Willie worked as a brewer’s traveller and outside manager. He died on 17th March 1952.