GRAY, John Joseph
| Service Number: | 3112 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Merewether, New South Wales, Australia, 26 January 1886 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Lorryman |
| Died: | Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales, Australia, 14 June 1925, aged 39 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 1-F Spec. 68. |
| Memorials: | Junction Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3112, 1st Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 3112, 1st Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 3112, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 25 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3112, 1st Pioneer Battalion, remained on duty | |
| 4 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3112, 1st Pioneer Battalion |
Help us honour John Joseph Gray's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell
Served in The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
95 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 14th June 1925, Private John Joseph Gray, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, lorryman from 53 Patrick Street, Merewether, New South Wales and 21 Frederick Street, Merewether N.S.W., died at the Newcastle Hospital, N.S.W., age 39.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137839313
This is a tragic story of a mother and her son, living together, that died on the same day.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163340418
John was born at Merewether, New South Wales on the 26th January 1886 (as GREY) to Michael (died 1922) and Esther Mary (died 14th June, 1925) Gray, and enlisted May 1915 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133751173
Wounded in action on the 25.8.1918 (GSW hand - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137496478), John returned home July 1919.
Jack’s name has been inscribed on the Junction Soldiers' Memorial.
The Newcastle Morning Herald reported on the 17th June 1925 the funeral for mother and son–
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137843915
The funeral of the late Ester Mary Gray left her former residence, Frederick Street, Merewether, for portion of Catholic Cemetery, Sandgate, on Monday.
Rev. Father Carey officiated at the graveside. The deceased was 69 years of age, and for over 40 years was a resident of Merewether. She leaves two daughters. Her husband predeceased her three years.
The funeral of her son, John, also took place on Monday, the same clergyman and pall-bearers acting as in his mother's case. He was 39 years of age, was born in Merewether, and went away with the 7th reinforcements of the Pioneers in 1916, returning in 1919.
He was gassed whilst at the front, which brought on his death. Much sympathy is expressed by all who knew Mrs. Gray and Jack Gray, the mother dying an hour before her son, who died whilst an inmate of the Newcastle Hospital.
John’s service record does not state that he was gassed, and was not suffering from any incapacity due to his war service, so I am unsure as to why he was an inmate at the hospital.
John’s headstone gives no indication that he served with the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies to honour his service and sacrifice for God, King and Country. CATHOLIC 1-F Spec. 68.
I will be submitting an application asking for official commemoration.
Lest We Forget.
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