The AIF Project

John Joseph BRAY

Regimental number1916
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationGroom
AddressDonald, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Next of kin..., Miss B O'Sullivan, Grey Cove, Donald, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 January 1915
Place of enlistmentSt Amaud, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 17 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death8 August 1915
Age at death24.10
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 40), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
71
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 9 July 1915.

Reported missing in action, 8 August 1915; Court of Enquiry, Serapeum, Egypt, 28 April 1916, subsequently deemed fate as killed in action.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Statutory Declaration, 21 May 1920 by Miss Brigit O'Sullivan: ' ... I am the person shown as the next-of-kin to the late No. 1916 Private John Joseph BRAY, 14th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. The above mentioned soldier was adopted by my parents ... when he was about twelve years of age. He had previously been brought up by the Neglected Children's department and my father when taking him over at Melbourne was informed that he was the illegitimate son of a girl fourteen years of age named Margaret Bray who had been deserted and of whom they had received no tidings since the in fact was left with the Department. I would be glad if any Medals earned by him may be sent to me to hold in trust should a more rightful claimant appear.' Base Records recommended to the Minister, 28 May 1920, that her request be approved, which the Minister subsequently did, 29 May 1920.

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