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William (Willie) Bray

William (Willie) Bray

Posted: 12 Mar 2014 3:11PM GMT
Classification: Death
Surnames: Bray
William (Willie) Bray
Born Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales, UK in 1886; died 1914, drowned.
Can anyone identify the uniform in this photo of my grand uncle taken around 1903? He seems to be holding a baton, so might he have belonged to an army or navy band? The braid on the sleeves, white belt and shape of the cap badge might offer clues? There's no photographic studio named, but it's an early postcard format and the copy was probably ordered by his father after his death, as the reverse has an order number "136136 Bray, special" and in my great-grandfather's large pencilled script: "W Bray. Drowned 1914". I remember my grandfather recounting that this favourite brother had died at sea. I'm trying to trace where he might have died, on what ship, merchant or otherwise, British or perhaps even Australian Navy? Any guidance would be very much appreciated. Passenger lists for various vessels to New South Wales, Australia, where two of his brothers had emigrated, have a W or Wm Bray noted: 1910 Orontes to Sydney, NSW; but also on the Wincannia to Sydney from London in 1912.
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Re: William (Willie) Bray

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 5:51AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 14 Mar 2014 5:57AM GMT
Royal Artillery, the cane is a swagger stick.
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Re: William (Willie) Bray

Posted: 17 Mar 2014 12:10AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you - the cap badge certainly seems to be the same shape. I shall look into records for the RA from 1901 to see whether I can find him. Much appreciated!

Re: William (Willie) Bray

Posted: 17 Mar 2014 2:07AM GMT
Classification: Query
This post was deleted by the author on 20 Apr 2015 10:22AM GMT

Re: William (Willie) Bray

Posted: 17 Mar 2014 11:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 18 Mar 2014 12:28AM GMT
That's him! How amazing. I've never been able to discover the ship he'd been working on when he drowned. The family lived at 18 Chapel Street, Bangor for many years. His father was Edward James Bray who was an officer on the Industrial Training Ship The Clio moored on the Menai Straits at Bangor. William's birth certificate shows only one Christian name and he was known as Willie in the family. His death was recorded in a large family bible that my grandmother sadly gave away and since my grandparents died in the 1970s there was no-one to check the name of the ship. I am so grateful for this information. Where did you find it? Many, many, many thanks. Rosmond
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