Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

20/08/1941

Date of Discharge

06/02/1947

Place of Enlistment

Operational Station, Papua

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Known as 'Harry'

Date of Birth

08/05/1921

Place of Birth

Wallaroo Mines, South Australia

Address (at enlistment)

Hotel Kurrajong, Barton ACT

Occupation

Public servant

Next of Kin

Minette Bray (mother), Cheltenham, South Australia

Service Number

NX76323

Final Rank

Lieutenant

Final Unit

3/22 Battalion

Bray worked as a public servant for the National Insurance Commission before the war. He joined the 3rd Battalion (militia) in early 1939 and arrived in Port Moresby at the end of May 1942 as a lieutenant. He was detached to Headquarters of New Guinea Force in September 1942 and returned to Australia at the end of the year where he was hospitalised several times with malaria. In September 1943 he was seconded to the Allied Information Bureau until July 1944 when his appointment was terminated. After the war Bray worked for the Department of External Affairs.

Description - height 5 feet 7.5 inches, weight 129 pounds, chest 31-35 inches.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Colin Kennedy, 'Port Moresby to Gona Beach. 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion 1942', 1992 (p.106)
Ken Laycock, 'Memories of a Militiaman', 1995 (typescript in ACT Heritage Library) (p.22)
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883 (Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)
The Canberra Times - 2 May 1940