Lancelot Bagshaw (Jim) GRAY

GRAY, Lancelot Bagshaw

Service Number: PA4051
Enlisted: 7 June 1943, Port Adelaide, SA
Last Rank: Able Seaman
Last Unit: HMAS Ararat
Born: Glenelg, SA, 11 January 1926
Home Town: Henley Beach , City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Injuries sustained when hit by a car, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, 19 October 1966, aged 40 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
West, Rose Bed W12 Position 31
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

7 Jun 1943: Enlisted Port Adelaide, SA
7 Jun 1943: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, PA4051, HMAS Ararat
16 Sep 1946: Discharged

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Lancelot Franklin GRAY, Seaview Road, Henley Beach, SA

Born 11 January 1926 in Glenelg and was known as Jim.

Jim served in the Second World War enlisting 7 June 1943 in the Royal Australian Navy as an Able Seaman, PA4051. He was based on the Corvette Matthew Flinders. He was  discharged 16 September 1946. Nina says he was nice looking and had the best legs on a man I ever saw.

The only time Lancelot visited his children was to sign the paperwork for Jim to go to war in the Navy in 1943. He just walked in and said, Hello, Ma. I always remember that.  then Ma says, Hello, Lance.


Sadly, Jim was hit by a car on 10 October 1966 when standing on the roadside near the Hilton Hotel. He died in hospital 9 days later. Nina went to the inquest and that chap got  awful trouble from the magistrate. Nina recalls that it was at Jim’s funeral that she met ‘the other family’ members, Lancelot’s later children, for the first time. Maureen was the  only one of her stepfamily that she remembers keeping in touch with her.

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