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.