The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Sergeant Alfred Bray

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Alfred Edwin Bray

Ancestor's date of birth: 06/04/1872

Ancestor's date of death: 17/10/1953

Cause of Death: Natural Causes

Service Number: 889, 7, 646 and 1513

Colony or State of enlistment: Not applicable, Place of Enlistment: Natal South Africa

Unit: F Squadron 1 Bethune's Mounted Infantry

Rank attained in Boer War: SGT, Date Effective: 16/12/1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 29/04/1916

Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve in an Australian Unit

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: Alfred Bray made his own way to South Africa.

Other Boer War Service: Enlisted in Natal South Africa for service with Bethune's Mounted Infantry[BMI] 10 April 1900.Operations against the Boers in Orange River Colony as a Cpl with F Squadron, BMI with tasks protecting and scouting for the right flank of General Buller's Army and actions near Vryheid,Scheeper's Nek and Utrecht. Discharged on the 15 December 1900. Re-enlisted as Sgt with Mennes Scouts 16 December 1900, this unit formed mainly from F Squadron BMI. Discharched Peitermaritzburg 22 February 1901. Re-enlisted in Durban 12 May 1902 with the Bushveldt Carbineers BVC as Trooper, this unit was also know as the Pietersburg Light Horse. Discharged Pietermaritzburg 30 June 1902, the war having ceased 31 May 1902.

Memorial details: Ballarat New Cemetery

Decorations: QSA Clasps: Orange Free State, SA 1901-1904. 1914-1915 Star, British War medal and Victory Medal 1914-1919.

Personal Characteristics: Born Ballarat Victoria,occupation Carpenter. Height 163 cm, weight: 78.5 kg, Fair Complection Hazel eyes scar on left hand. Married after 1902.His widow awarded the ANZAC Medal in 1967.Soldiers sister was Nurse FM Bray

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: He served in the Boer War with irregular units raised in South Africa.. Their mission was to fight the mounted guerilla warfare style favoured by the Boers. Breaker Morant was an officer with the BVC, but had been executed before Alfred Bray joined the unit. Soldier is not listed as casualty in the Boer War, but the associated records are not reliable. Soldier's photograph and letter in "Cobbers in Khaki".

Service and life after the Boer War: Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Ballarat 8 September 1914 and trained at Camp Broadmeadows, Lance Corporal 13 January 1915. Fought in WW1 at Gallipoli 16 May 1915. Fought near Steels Post and Sharpnel Gully, this area was under constant sniper fire and some artillery fire. Wounded in action 1 June 1915 with sharpnel to his arm and chest apparently whilst on outpost duty at Braund's hill, east of Sharpnel Gully. Evacuated to 1st Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis 8 June 1915. He returned to Australia at the rank of sergeant, medically discharged. He was a Munitions worker after the war.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Pamela Dawn Major, Wendouree VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

 


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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields