GRAY, Frederick Oliver
| Service Number: | 14820 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Army Medical Corps (AIF) |
| Born: | Fielding, New Zealand, July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Bruny Island, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 26 April 1994, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Bruny Roll of Honour, Kempton Congregational Church HR, North Hobart Friends' School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 23 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 14820, Army Medical Corps (AIF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 14820, Army Medical Corps (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 14820, Army Medical Corps (AIF), HMAT Euripides, Melbourne |
Help us honour Frederick Oliver Gray's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Frederick Oliver Gray (known as Oliver), born in 1895, was a farmer from North Bruny Island, when he enlisted on 23 May 1916.
Private Gray was a Quaker and entered the Claremont Camp with his brother, Thomas, in 1916. Meningitis was prevalent at the Camp. Tom volunteered to nurse a case and contracted the disorder and died on 19 June 1916 in Hobart.
Oliver joined his older brother, Oberlin, as a stretcher bearer with the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance. The brothers chose to join the medical corps because, as Quakers, they conscientiously weren’t able to take up arms. He disembarked in Plymouth on 6 October 1916. Within two months he proceeded to France. On 24 August 1918, Oliver was in France with Oberlin, when Oberlin was hit by a shell. Oliver carried Oberlin out of the field, and remained with him until he was put in an ambulance and taken to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in Daours. Oberlin died there a few hours later.
Private Oliver Gray was one of two Tasmanians to receive the French Legion D'Honneur: Medaille Militaire. Only 56 of these medals were issued to Australians.
His recommendation states that during an attack by the enemy, Private Gray worked with exceptional courage and devotion attending the wounded men, under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Private Gray moved out under extremely heavy fire in view of the enemy and give first aid to the wounded, and also carried them back to a covered position. His conduct throughout this action was recognised as deserving of the highest praise and his quick and valuable services undoubtedly saved many lives.
Private Gray returned to Australia on 4 January 1919.
Mr. Gray returned to Bruny Island after the war and ran a farm, 'Grasmere', at Killora with his brother, Arthur.
In 1921, Mr. Gray married Gladys, the daughter of Joseph Hunter and Sarah Pybus, of Barnes Bay, North Bruny Island. They had three daughters, Ann Elizabeth, Mary Elwin and Barbara Louisa. The daughters were educated at The Friends School, Hobart.
Mr. Gray was elected to the Bruny Island Council to represent the Lennon Ward from May 1921 - April 1933, and again from 1954 - April 1955. He was Warden of the Municipality of Bruny from May 1925 to May 1933. Mr. Gray was also a Justice of the Peace and a Coroner.
Mr. Gray contributed to the understanding of the Bruny Island’s history by writing the books Recollections of North Bruny, published in 1978, and Further Recollections of North Bruny, published in 1985.
The coordinator of the Bruny Island Historical Society, Bev Davis, wrote in April 1997 that:
“In his two books, Oliver Gray did a wonderful job for posterity by committing to paper his recollections of a long lifetime spent on Bruny Island. Without his efforts, these snippets of a past era would have been lost forever.”
Mr. Gray died peacefully on 26 April 1994 at Eldercare, Franklin. Mr. Gray was cremated. The ashes of Mr. and Mrs. Gray were placed under a peace rose at their old home, 'Grasmere'.
Acknowledgement; Bruny Island Historical Society
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