William Francis Duncan Gray. Queensland1963

[bootzy]

Hi eadaoin,
1930 - 1943 they lived in Mackay,  William listed as seaman.

1954 William & Marguerita have moved to 42 Canopus St, Cooparoo (suburb of Brisbane) and William is listed as a stevedore

1958 William is on his own still at same address and job - wife died 1956

1963 Wiliam is now at Watson Road, Acacia Ridge - Coopers Plains Qld  (another outer suburb of Brisbane).

you might be interested about this on his Unit.
http://regimental-books.com.au/wheatbelt-warriors-the-story-of-the-15th-battalion-volunteer-defence-corps-p-558.html

There is a fair few hits on Google regarding the 15th Battalion and one has a fair few photos of personel.. link too long to post on here.

regards
Val

[majm]

There is a fair few hits on Google regarding the 15th Battalion and one has a fair few photos of personel.. link too long to post on here.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/  Hi, here's a shrink link option that RChat provides.

Here's another option  http://tinyurl.com/

Cheers,  JM

[cando]

In case the OP would like to use google maps/streetview to see where they lived.

Australian Electoral Roll
Queensland
1925  Herbert/Mackay
GRAY Marguerita  Lister House   Home duties

1930  Herbert/Mackay
GRAY Marguerita  Mt Bassett Road  HD
GRAY William Francis Duncan  Mt Bassett Road  Seaman

1932, 1934, 1936, 1937  Herbert/Mackay
GRAY Marguerita  9 Peel Street   HD
GRAY William Francis Duncan   9 Peel Street  Seaman

1943 Herbert/Mackay
GRAY Marguerita  65 Juliet Street   HD
GRAY William Francis Duncan  65 Juliet Street   Master Mariner

1949
GRAY Marguerita  65 Juliet Street   HD

Did Wm have a brother Thomas Alexander GRAY?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169972723
Daily Mercury, Mackay 14 Feb 1930

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170270054
Daily Mercury  25 Mar 1937
Daily Kennel News.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172571927
Daily Mercury, Mackay 2 Jul 1937
The challenge-winning setter dog shown by Capt. W. Gray was an out standing specimen with an extra good headpiece, nice shaped skull and occiput bone, a beautiful type, and nice even color, and could have won at the Sydney Royal Show this year. It should go a long way in its career.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169409721
Daily Mercury, Mackay 20 Oct 1938
IRISH Setter Puppies by Ch. Shamus of the Gladdagh, son of the late Gr. Ch. Brian of Halcana (imp.). Dams: Ch. Maureen of Mourne and Maureen of the Gladdagh. Inspection invited; prices moderate. Capt. W. Gray, 65 Juliet Street, Mackay.

WW2 Service Summaries - Army
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=78872
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=112670

Cando

[cando]

I dont have access to see further info so cant confirm these are the right couple arriving.

GRAY   MARGUIRETTA   1895   —   1922      Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
GRAY   WM   1899   —   1922   Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

This passenger listing for "Marguiretta" was struck out. The listing was for the THERMISTOCLES which departed from London on 13 Sep 1922.  The last address in the UK, Ivydene,  Green St Green, Orpington, Kent.  This was her in-laws address in 1911.

Wm GRAY born c1899 was listed as a farmer. Passenger on the DEMOSTHENES from London 17 May 1922.

Cando

[cando]

Did Wm have a brother Thomas Alexander GRAY?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169972723
Daily Mercury, Mackay 14 Feb 1930

According to the English census, born Kent, England.
Births Jun 1907   
GRAY    Thomas Alexander        Thanet    2a/1098

GRAY Thomas Alexander
Baptised 9 Jun 1907  St Peter, Kent, England
Father Richard  Mother Alice Edith

I have his military history WWI and his probable Irish police record.

Why would William have an Irish police record if his family had lived in England from c1907?

Cando

[cando]

William was not truthful on his attestation form.  He was born 1898 and in 1915 he stated he was 19 years of age ie born c1896.

Irish Civil Registration Birth Index
Births Dec qtr 1898
GRAY William   Navan 2/751


Another source for his birth c1899 Navan, Meath, Ireland is the 1911 census, completed and signed by his father.

Cando

[cando]

WW2 service summary - NOK Doris
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=A&VeteranId=258322

Marriage in NSW
19459/1936     
GRAY Thomas Alexander
COMER    Doris Ellen    
District Gulgong

Could be his death in NSW
4273/1981     
GRAY Thomas Alexander
Father Richard  Mother Alice Edith

Photo of his headstone
http://austcemindex.com/inscription?id=8770402

and Doris Ellen died in 1989
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48867328&ref=acom

Cando

[eadaoin]

First of all - Wow, Wow, Wow! thank you so much everyone! It'll take me most of today to go through all this! Heartfelt thanks.

And now that I have his wife's name I can get his marriage cert (in London 1920 - up to now there were just too many William Gray to make buying a cert financially feasible, though I was vaguely betting on Marguerite McDermott as the only Irish surname on the list.)

Did Wm have a brother Thomas Alexander GRAY?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169972723
Daily Mercury, Mackay 14 Feb 1930

According to the English census, born Kent, England.
Births Jun 1907   
GRAY    Thomas Alexander        Thanet    2a/1098

GRAY Thomas Alexander
Baptised 9 Jun 1907  St Peter, Kent, England
Father Richard  Mother Alice Edith

I have his military history WWI and his probable Irish police record.

Why would William have an Irish police record if his family had lived in England from c1907?

Ireland was  in the middle of the war of Independence from about 1918  to 1922.
Many exservicemen from WWI signed up to the Royal Irish Constabulary when they couldn't get jobs in UK after the War. WFD was born in Ireland and his uncle and grandfather had been in the R.I.C. And he still had uncles, aunts, cousins in Dublin.

Yes his brother is Thomas Alexander . . I lost track of him also . . now I can chase him up too.

regards eadaoin (thrilled to bits)

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Thomas Alexander Gray's WW2 service records (CMF and AIF) have been digitised and available to view on the National Archives of Australia site.

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx

Gerry