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I would like to highlight this soldiers life and death. One of the many non-combat related deaths to befall members of the Canadian Active Service Force during World War Two.
Bray, John Thomas. Sgt. B/24060
Company unknown
Service file volume: RG24-25237
Date of Birth: 16 February 1907
Place of Birth: Bransford, Worcestershire England
Age: 37
Height: 5’ 9 ½”
Weight: 126 lbs
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Married
Wife: Ester, married August 1, 1930 in Toronto Ontario.
Children: Carol Mary (born 19-Dec-30), Jacqueline Edith (born 25-Nov-32) and Phillip
Edwin (born 13-Dec-37)
Family:
Father: Charles Wallace
Mother: Mary Jane
Brothers: Charles, Walter, Philip, Hayden, and Benjamin
Sisters: Marion and Eva
Position in Family: 1
Other Facts: He moved to Canada with his family when he was 21 years old.
Education: Left school at age 13 Grade 8
Trade or Calling: Painter and decorator
Date of enlistment: 12 January 1940
Place of enlistment: Toronto Ontario
Regiment or Unit: Queens own Rifles of Canada
Reason for enlistment: Liked army life and glad to do his share.
Date Taken on Strength to Irish Regiment of Canada: 09 April 1944, in Italy.
Other service Facts: He joined the Queens Own Rifles of Canada 24 January 1931 as a
militiaman. On 15 January 1940 he was promoted to Cpl. and then to Sgt. 20 June 1940.
He was promoted to CSM 17 November 1941 but reverted to Cpl. at his own request 26
February 1944. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal on 18 June 1942.
Theatres and Dates of Service: Canada 12-Jan-40 to 19-Jul-41
U.K. 20-Jul-41 to 26-Mar-44
Italy 27-Mar-44 to 06-Aug-44
Notes from interviewer: Pleasant, very well mannered and spoken. Seems an excellent
temperament. He enjoys woodworking, fishing, soccer (center or forward), Cricket
(bowler), and singing.
Date of Death: 06 August 1944
Circumstances: Struck by lightning while awaiting a game of cricket.
Location of Burial: Caserta War Cemetery, Italy.
Grave Reference: Plot II. Row C. Grave 5.
Eyewitness Account of John Bray’s death:
Eyewitness account by Sgt. Peacocke, J.R. 11410143
On Sunday 6th August 44, Bdr. Norbury organized a trial cricket match. The teams
arrived at the CMTC PT School Ground at approx 1415 hrs. The game was about to start
when rain commenced, and both teams took shelter beneath the trees, hoping that the rain
might cease. About a quarter of an hour later it started to thunder and lightning, and it
began to rain heavier. About ten minutes later we decided to pack up for the day, and
commenced to collect the kit and run across the ground to the lorry, which was in the
lane. I personally was the sixth or seventh out of twenty odd away from the trees and was
running across the ground when there was a terrific flash and clap of thunder, and I was
thrown upon my face. I was then about twenty-five yards from the trees. On getting up I
heard shouts from people near the trees. I looked back and saw some people upon the
ground. I ran back to see if I could help as I thought some had been hurt somehow. When
I reached them Sgt. Wedge told me some had been ‘struck’. He was with another man
carrying on of the injured. I asked how many had been hurt and was told five. Various
people were being carried away and I could only see one man on the ground with another
man bending over him. I went over to help and found Sgt. Bray on the ground and L/Cpl.
Tedman with him. Sgt. Bray was unconscious and with L/Cpl. Tedman and another NCO
we carried Sgt. Bray to the truck. I noticed that Sgt. Bray was discolouring in the face and
when I felt his pulse I could not feel any beat. He was placed into the truck and turned on
to his face; during the journey to 106 S.A. Hospital he was given artificial respiration. At
the Hospital He and the other men given immediate attention. I asked for permission to
return the uninjured men to their billets and having given full particulars of the injured
men, I returned with the Lorry to Calore Camp. I there reported to the Camp
Commandants Office, and to the i/c Canadian Dem Troops and Mechanics School S.S.M.
Bray, John Thomas. Sgt. B/24060
Company unknown
Service file volume: RG24-25237
Date of Birth: 16 February 1907
Place of Birth: Bransford, Worcestershire England
Age: 37
Height: 5’ 9 ½”
Weight: 126 lbs
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Married
Wife: Ester, married August 1, 1930 in Toronto Ontario.
Children: Carol Mary (born 19-Dec-30), Jacqueline Edith (born 25-Nov-32) and Phillip
Edwin (born 13-Dec-37)
Family:
Father: Charles Wallace
Mother: Mary Jane
Brothers: Charles, Walter, Philip, Hayden, and Benjamin
Sisters: Marion and Eva
Position in Family: 1
Other Facts: He moved to Canada with his family when he was 21 years old.
Education: Left school at age 13 Grade 8
Trade or Calling: Painter and decorator
Date of enlistment: 12 January 1940
Place of enlistment: Toronto Ontario
Regiment or Unit: Queens own Rifles of Canada
Reason for enlistment: Liked army life and glad to do his share.
Date Taken on Strength to Irish Regiment of Canada: 09 April 1944, in Italy.
Other service Facts: He joined the Queens Own Rifles of Canada 24 January 1931 as a
militiaman. On 15 January 1940 he was promoted to Cpl. and then to Sgt. 20 June 1940.
He was promoted to CSM 17 November 1941 but reverted to Cpl. at his own request 26
February 1944. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal on 18 June 1942.
Theatres and Dates of Service: Canada 12-Jan-40 to 19-Jul-41
U.K. 20-Jul-41 to 26-Mar-44
Italy 27-Mar-44 to 06-Aug-44
Notes from interviewer: Pleasant, very well mannered and spoken. Seems an excellent
temperament. He enjoys woodworking, fishing, soccer (center or forward), Cricket
(bowler), and singing.
Date of Death: 06 August 1944
Circumstances: Struck by lightning while awaiting a game of cricket.
Location of Burial: Caserta War Cemetery, Italy.
Grave Reference: Plot II. Row C. Grave 5.
Eyewitness Account of John Bray’s death:
Eyewitness account by Sgt. Peacocke, J.R. 11410143
On Sunday 6th August 44, Bdr. Norbury organized a trial cricket match. The teams
arrived at the CMTC PT School Ground at approx 1415 hrs. The game was about to start
when rain commenced, and both teams took shelter beneath the trees, hoping that the rain
might cease. About a quarter of an hour later it started to thunder and lightning, and it
began to rain heavier. About ten minutes later we decided to pack up for the day, and
commenced to collect the kit and run across the ground to the lorry, which was in the
lane. I personally was the sixth or seventh out of twenty odd away from the trees and was
running across the ground when there was a terrific flash and clap of thunder, and I was
thrown upon my face. I was then about twenty-five yards from the trees. On getting up I
heard shouts from people near the trees. I looked back and saw some people upon the
ground. I ran back to see if I could help as I thought some had been hurt somehow. When
I reached them Sgt. Wedge told me some had been ‘struck’. He was with another man
carrying on of the injured. I asked how many had been hurt and was told five. Various
people were being carried away and I could only see one man on the ground with another
man bending over him. I went over to help and found Sgt. Bray on the ground and L/Cpl.
Tedman with him. Sgt. Bray was unconscious and with L/Cpl. Tedman and another NCO
we carried Sgt. Bray to the truck. I noticed that Sgt. Bray was discolouring in the face and
when I felt his pulse I could not feel any beat. He was placed into the truck and turned on
to his face; during the journey to 106 S.A. Hospital he was given artificial respiration. At
the Hospital He and the other men given immediate attention. I asked for permission to
return the uninjured men to their billets and having given full particulars of the injured
men, I returned with the Lorry to Calore Camp. I there reported to the Camp
Commandants Office, and to the i/c Canadian Dem Troops and Mechanics School S.S.M.
