GRAY, John Adam
| Service Number: | VX35128 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 June 1940, Royal Park, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Anti Tank aka Tank Attack Regiment |
| Born: | Numurkah, Victoria, Australia, 4 October 1917 |
| Home Town: | Numurkah, Moira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Drumanure Primary School, Numurkah Higher Elementary School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of Illness (POW of Japan - Malaria), Thailand, 9 January 1944, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Plot: 1. M. 67 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Numurkah & District War Memorial Hospital, Numurkah Saluting Their Service Mural, Numurkah and District War Memorial, The Numurkah Mob Remembered Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 28 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Private, VX35128, Royal Park, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35128 | |
| 15 Feb 1942: | Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Captured at Singapore & taken to Selarang Barracks, Changi. As part of D Force he was taken to Thailand by the Japanese to work Hellfire Pass. | |
| 9 Jan 1944: | Involvement Gunner, VX35128, 2nd/4th Anti Tank aka Tank Attack Regiment, Prisoners of War |
Help us honour John Adam Gray's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Adam Walker Gray and Amy Florance Gray, of Drumanure, Victoria, Australia
THE HAND OF GOD IS SHOWN IN ALL THINGS WITH UNERRING WISDOM
Johnny's family farmed at Drumanure. He attended the Numurkah Higher Elementary School. After leaving school, he worked on the family farm. He was considered 'a quiet sort of fellow' who paid attention and usually wighed up a situartion before dealing with it as necessary.
He joined the 2nd AIF in May 1940 and as a member of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment he was sent to Singapore and on the 15th of Feburary 1942 became a POW in Changi, after the Allied Forces surrendered Singapore to the Japanese Army.
After working on the Burma Railway, he fell ill and died in January 1944. He lies buried in the Kanchanabur War Cemetery in Thailand.
Johnny was a great sportsman who enjoyed life and is remembered for his loyalty, courage and sense of humour.
'Gray House' is one of the Numurkah Higher Elementary School 'houses' named in his honour.
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