He was born at Milfield Demesne and called Ida after King Ida of Bernicia whose palace was supposed to have been there.

He was the fourth child of George and Christian Grey.

E. I. Grey joined July 1915. 315 Bat R.F.A.- 2nd Lieut Northern at Gosforth and York. Nov. 1915 to May 1916. France June 1916 till July 2 1917. Hospital Newcastle June 1917 till Aug 1917. Ripon Aug 4 to Aug 25 1917. Nothld R.F.A. depot Frinton Aug 1917 to Aug 1918. 418B R.F.A. Catterick 1918 to Sep 1918. Command depot Clacton Sept 1918 to Jan 1919. 418 Mixed Brigade in 1916 took part in battles at ?Ainse-Schabeu- ?Regmia Trench- Beaumont Hamel 2nd battle of Avis- 3 battle Ypes and at Massines.

From family bible inscribed on front page “ To George and Christian Grey with affectionate regards and best wishes for their happiness from George Butler, Principal of Liverpool College 29 April 1878"

 

He appears in an undated photograph of a curling match in St Moritz with his father George and his brother Gervase.

Eric Ida Grey

Chartered Land Agent.

Eric Ida Grey born at Milfield on Tuesday August 25 1885 christened in Milfield School room by Rev Richard Smith Vicar Kirknewton.

Married Dorothy Ward-Roper (Dodo) on 5 January 1916 at Walker on Tyne

Died at Meldon Burn Milfield on Monday 12 June 1933 and was buried at Ford.

 

Some of his descendants now live in Australia.

" Death Notices • Forrestal Margaret • Date of Death: 30th January 2012 • Date 1st Published: 4th February 2012 • FORRESTAL (Australia). Formerly of Milfield and Gosforth. Margaret (Pete, nee Grey), peacefully in San Adventist Hospital, Sidney, Australia on 30th January 2012, aged 90 years. Beloved mother of Richard, Marna and Nigel and grandmother of Kelli, Stephen, Thomas, Hannah and Harry."

Newcastle Journal 4 Feb 2012.

A cutting from 1972 about his son Jim Grey who worked for the Country Gentleman's Association: J. E. I. GREY " Mr Grey has expressed a wish to be relieved of his duties as Executive Director in charge of the Company's Trading activities. After discussion with the Chairman it has been mutually decided that Mr Grey will be released from his responsibilities as from the end of this financial year, i.e., 31 March 1972. Jim Grey has been with the Company some 36 years, and rose to become Managing Director on the Trading side of the Company. His home was in Northumberland, where his father was land agent to a large estate on the Border. He joined the CGA in Letchworth in 1936. During the war he served in the RAF from 1939-45 and in Fighter Squadrons during 1940-43. After the war he became the Trading Manager in Scotland, where he built up a successful Trading side and greatly increased the Scottish membership. When the General Manager at the Company's main Trading departments at Letchworth retired, Jim Grey moved South. He soon became as well known to members in England as he had been in Scotland. He joined the Board of the CGA in 1957 as Trading Director and subsequently became Joint Managing Director. Members throughout the United Kingdom who got to know him will remember him for his cheerful, open manner. The Board wish to record their very considerable thanks to him for his long and loyal service to the Company and to wish him well now that he is leaving the Company. Mr M. Sampson, who joined the Company last year, will take over responsibility on the Trading side as General Manager at Letchworth as from 1 April 1972."

 

He wrote his will on the day he was married: I ERIC IDA GREY of Milfield in the County of Northumberland Esquire HEREBY REVOKE all former Wills Codicils and testamentary instruments made by me AND DECLARE this to be my last Will I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all the estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal to which I may be entitled or which I may have power to dispose of at my decease unto and to the use of my wife Dorothy Grey her heirs executors Executrix and administrators respectively absolutely and I APPOINT her sole Executrix of this my will IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Fifth day of January one thousand nine hundred and sixteen ERIC I. GREY SIGNED by the said Testator Eric Ida Grey (on the day of but subsequent to his marriage) as and for his last Will in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. G. H. I. GREY, Major, Middle Ord, Berwick-on-Tweed. C. W. DIXON-JOHNSON Croft House, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington. On the 21st day of August, 1933 Probate of this Will……… at NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Right: The family grave at Ford Church. " In ever loving memory of ERIC IDA GREY beloved husband of DOROTHY GREY who died at Milfield June 12th 1933 aged 47 years. Also the above DOROTHY GREY who died 9th Jan.y 1956. Their daughter MARNA wife of Jack Anderson who died 15th Aug 1987. " I will lift up mine eyes until the hills." Their son JAMES ERIC IDA died on 4th April 1988 Their daughter MARGARET (PETE) died 30th Jan. 2012 Mother of Richard, Marna and Nigel Forrestal.

Photograph by alan.tully taken on June 8, 2014 from billiongraves.com website.

 

Eric (on the right at the back) with his brother Boyd and family and friends at Meldon Burn in 1926. The house at the southern end of Milfield village had belonged to his elder brother Jock who had died in May 1924, and left it to their mother in his will. "I devise the messuage or dwelling-house situate at Milfield aforesaid and called or known as Meldon Burn House with the garden and appurtenances thereunto belonging as formerly in the occupation of John Clark to my mother Christian Margaret Grey". Thanks to Mike Anderson for the photo

Marna and Pete at Meldon Burn from Hestia Grey's album.