RAY, Alexander Leslie
Service Number: | 174 |
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Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria |
Last Rank: | Trooper |
Last Unit: | 4th Light Horse Regiment |
Born: | Kensington, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
Home Town: | Sale, Gippsland, Victoria |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Butcher |
Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 16 September 1915 |
Cemetery: |
Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula Plot 1, Row H, Grave 8, Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Sale Baptist Church WWI Honour Roll, Sale Cenotaph |
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alexander Ray, who commonly went by his middle name “Leslie”, was born in 1891 to His father was a miner, and the family lived in Sale, where Leslie was one of nine boys and three sisters. In the years before the war, Leslie’s mother lost her sight, and was completely blind for many years.
Alexander was the first of three brothers who died in WW1 in a period of less than 12 months. His older brother, 3231 Pte. Arthur William Ray, 59th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Fromelles 19 July 1916, aged 28. Only a few weeks later another older brother, 1605 Pte. Herbert Ray, 7th Battalion AIF, who had also served at Gallipoli, was killed in action at Pozieres 20 August 1916, aged 33.
A mate wrote the following letter to Leslie’s mother shortly after his death,
"In the Trenches, 17/9/15.-Dear Mrs Ray, -No doubt you will know of the sad news of Les's death. Les and I have been mates together ever since we left Australia, and I feel it only my duty to write you a few lines of how your brave son fell. No doubt he has told you of his first wound, which he got on 17.7.15. He was away for seven weeks and returned on 8.9.15, looking real well; and yesterday, 16.9.15, at about 4p.m., he was sitting in his little dug-out in the trench, and on the opposite side another lad was sitting. "They were both writing (Les had just finished writing you a letter), when a big six-inch shell fell right in between them, and then burst, killing both of them. One thing I am pleased to tell you - poor Les never suffered; in fact, he never knew he was hit, death was so sudden. I ran around to him, but he was dead. I got his pocket-book and gave it in to head office. They guaranteed it would reach you safely. There is a knife and a few small things; but, like the rest of us here, he never carried much, as we have so much. There were also several photos in his book. I know how you will value any little thing like that, that he has carried so long. Les, was a good boy, and led a good life right through. He fought and fell like a man. His bother Bert Ray, in the 7th Battalion, is well. He has not been told the bad news yet. You have the deepest sympathy of all the boys in the squadron, as well as myself, as poor Les was so well liked by all - I remain your son's affectionate mate, Mark Geary. A Sqd., 4th L.H."
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of F. Nicholas Ray and Elizabeth Ray (nee Hodson) of Marley Street, Sale,Victoria
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal