Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick William Wray (1864-1943), Anglican clergyman and military chaplain, was born on 29 September 1864 at Taradale, Victoria, sixth son of English-born Robert Mackie Wray, clerk, and his Irish wife Anne Rebecca, née Bury. Educated near Castlemaine, at 14 Fred joined the Victorian Volunteer Force and later the militia, serving a total of seven years. He was an undergraduate at Trinity College, University of Melbourne, in 1889-90 and decided to study for the Anglican ministry. Made deacon in 1894 and ordained priest on 22 December 1895 by Bishop F. F. Goe, Wray was minister at Dookie (1894-96) and Euroa (1896-1900). On 4 June 1897 he was appointed chaplain in the Victorian Military Forces.

An accomplished rower, marksman and Australian Rules footballer, the 'sporting parson'—nearly six feet (183 cm) tall, weighing 15 stone (95 kg) and 'a splendid type of a muscular Christian'—sailed as chaplain with Victoria's 2nd (Mounted Rifles) Contingent and arrived in South Africa on 5 February 1900. The contingent saw action in the Cape Colony, Orange River Colony and the Transvaal, then returned to Melbourne in December. Two bouts of enteric fever delayed Wray's repatriation until mid-1901. On 3 April 1902 he married Henrietta Olive Elizabeth Catford at Christ Church, Hawthorn. He resumed parish work, first at Yarrawonga (1902-13) and then at Rushworth, retaining his military appointment and gaining promotion to chaplain 2nd class in 1912.

On 1 December 1914 he joined the Australian Imperial Force and sailed for Egypt three weeks later. Allotted to the 4th Brigade, with particular responsibility for the 13th Battalion, he 'slipped ashore' at Gallipoli early on 26 April 1915 despite orders forbidding non-combatants from so doing. He became a familiar figure at the front line and earned the soldiers' gratitude. A fellow chaplain described him 'moving about in full view of the enemy' with 'a notebook and pencil in his hand … busy with the work of keeping a check on the names of the dead and a list of their personal effects'. On 3 May, after the 4th Brigade had suffered heavy losses, Wray described his duties: 'During the day I did field dressing, stretcher bearing, grave digging and filling and putting the bodies in'. Suffering from enteritis in August, he was successively taken to Malta, England and finally to Rushworth. For his service at Gallipoli he was mentioned in dispatches and appointed C.M.G.

Rejoining the 4th Brigade in Egypt in March 1916, Wray accompanied the 13th Battalion on operations in the desert and was again mentioned in dispatches. In June the brigade transferred to the Western Front, taking part in the battles of Pozières and Mouquet Farm in August. As at Gallipoli, Wray moved among the troops, giving spiritual and practical support; once more his work included assistance at dressing stations, burying the dead, sorting effects such as identity discs and pay books, and writing to the bereaved. On 14 October he wrote a letter critical of his Church for not providing as chaplains 'those specially fitted for work among men'. Posted in December as staff chaplain to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London, he became senior chaplain early in 1917. Until his overseas service ended in August 1919, he administered chaplaincy affairs from London, making periodic visits to France. He was appointed C.B.E. in June.

Returning to civilian life, in 1920 Wray was appointed canon of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta, and in 1928 rector of that parish. Erect and square-shouldered, he kept his soldierly bearing and traversed the Wangaratta area on foot or on a bicycle, never having learned to drive a motor car. He retained his interest in sport, and was active in the affairs of returned servicemen and in Freemasonry. Wray retired in 1935. Predeceased by his wife, he died on 18 November 1943 at his home in Sandringham, Melbourne, and was buried in the new Cheltenham cemetery. Two sons and three daughters survived him.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wray-frederick-william-9194

HONORED BY THE KING.
Chaplain-Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Wray, whose name appears in the list of military honors as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.), is therector of St. Paul's, Rushworth, Victoria. He was mentioned in despatches for gallant conduct at Gallipoli, and also served as a chaplain in the Boer war. His wife is the niece of Miss Corr, M.A., principal of Aachmys College, Bendigo, and is also a sister of Dr. Catford, of Eaglehawk, who is now with the troops in Egypt. It is interesting to record that Sir John  Wodehouse, who was knighted for bravery on the field of Agincourt in 1415, is an ancestor of Mrs. Wray. 

Lieut.-Colonel Frederick Wray, C.M.G., chaplain attached to the 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F., was formerly a well-known and highly-esteemed resident of Castlemaine. He  was captain of the Foundry Football Club in the old days, when it first won the up-country premiership for three consecutive years, and was a sergeant in the old Castlemaine  militia, in which he was recognised as a crack rifle shot. For many years Lieut.-Colonel Wray was minister in charge of the Church of England parochial district of Yarrawonga,  Boomahnoomoonah, and Tungamah, and was subsequently appointed rector of the parochial district of Rushworth, Murchison, Arcadia, Whroo and Dargalong, the area of the district being so large as to necessitate the assistance of a curate and an honorary reader. Mrs. Wray (who is a sister to Dr. Catford, formerly of Eaglehawk, but now with the  Australian Expeditionary Forces abroad), and her four children are still residing at the rectory in Rushworth. Lieut. Colonel Wray's abilities as a rifle shot soon became well known  upon his removal to Yarrawonga, and he was appointed to the position of captain of the rifle club in that locality, a position he held for about seven years. He subsequently  emoved to Rushworth, and there he also occupied the position of captain of the rifle club. In the first match, in which 28 competed, he fired seven shots at both the 200 yards and 300 yards ranges, and scored 34 and 30 respec tively, and thereafter at all times he figured prominently in club championships and aggregates. He discontinued his duties as  rector of St. Paul's Church, Rushworth, shortly after the outbreak of the war, and entering camp left these shores with the Australian Imperial Forces. The late Capt. Gillison and  Lieut.-Colonel Wray were the first Australian chaplains at Monash Valley.

Ample evidence of the popularity of Lieut.-Colonel Wray amongst the soldiers with whom he has been associated is afforded from the following extract from a letter written by one of the soldiers at Gallipoli some time ago:- "About a fortnight ago, in the midst of a burial service over the open graves of several of our poor fellows, the bullets were flying in all  directions. The chaplain went right through the prayer as if they were in a peaceful country. Not a man around the grave moved, and, strange to say, no one was hit. Within an  hour afterwards one man was killed and another was badly wounded at almost the same spot. In a chat with the chaplain, he told me the prayers he read in such cases were applicable to all creeds. He never looks to see if the lads are Protestants, Roman Catholics, or Jews. He holds services all the same, and follows the same rule with all dying lads  with whom he comes in contact. One meets him right up in the firing line, and all over the place. Naturally, all the men would do anything for him. They reckon he breakfasts with  the brigadier, lunches with the privates, and goes without tea in order to hold service over some poor lads in the evening."

Mr. W. B. Cairns, of Bancroft-street, Bendigo, who is 84 years of age, and who formerly resided in Yarrawonga, is well acquainted with Lieut.-Colonel Wray, and the latter whilst  at the front wrote to Mr. Cairns as follows:-"Dear Old Friend, I am glad to know incidentally that you are still going well, and trust you are having fine health. You will be pleased to know I am very well, and in the midst of so much killing and wounding have escaped both bullets and sickness so far. I have had plenty of work, and expect much more anon.  This is just a greeting from the front from your old friend, F.W. Wray, C.F." Mr. Cairns was the founder of the rifle club at Yarrawonga about 32 years ago, and for a number of  years was its esteemed captain. When he was appointed by Lieut.-Colonel Price as captain of the No. 1 district comprising 16 clubs in that lo-cality, Lieut.-Colonel Wray succeeded  Mr. Cairns as captain of the Yarrawonga club.