GRAY, John Graham
| Service Number: | 521 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 April 1901, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504 notes he enrolled in South Africa. Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 33, notes he attested on 1 Apr 1901, the same day that the 5th QIB arrived in South Africa. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Grammar School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Brisbane Grammar School Boer War Honour Board |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 521, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 521, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504 notes he enrolled in South Africa. Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 33, notes he attested on 1 Apr 1901, the same day that the 5th QIB arrived in South Africa. | |
| 14 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 521, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 33, notes discharged in South Africa 14 Jun 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
J. G. Gray is noted in the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504 as having enrolled in South Africa. Newspaper reports also record him under the name Jack Gray. Refer also to the Post Script at the end of this Bio.
As John Graham Gray had enrolled in South Africa he was not included in the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent held by National Archives. He was however, included in the Boer War Service Paybooks of the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 33, held by Qld State Archives.
It is noted in his entry in the Boer War Service Paybooks that he attested in South Africa on 1 Apr 1901, the same day that the 5th QIB arrived in South Africa from Australia. The paybook entry further notes that he was discharged in South Africa on 14 Jun 1901. Unfortunately, it does not contain a reference to a possible N.O.K.
A newspaper report published in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, detailed the men that remained in South Africa when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia due to, being in hospital, having been discharged there for employment, remaining for further service, or awaiting passage to England. The report records 521, Private Jack Gray as discharged in South Africa for employment and that he specifically was discharged "in June of last year" (1901).
Post Script:
Note- a John Graham Gray also enlisted in 1914 in Brisbane for WW1, Pivate S.N. 60, 3rd Field Ambulance, AIF. On that person's attestation paper they noted they had served in South Africa in The Scottish Horse, the S.A.C. (South African Constabulary) and the Imperial Bushmen.
Reference was made to the digitised copy of the original roll for the Scottish Horse on the Anglo Boer War website. This indicated a Trooper John Graham Gray S.N. 31614 joined the Scottish Horse on 15 Feb 1901 and was discharged on 14 Sep 1901 to transfer as a Lieutenant to the S.A.C. Based on this, his service noted on his WW1 attestation with the Imperial Bushmen would appear unlikely to have been the same John Graham Gray that served with the 5th Qld Imperial Bushmen.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 33; AngloBoer War online- digitised roll for the Scottish Horse; National Archives Australia- unrelated person with same name WW1 record).