Gunn, William (1751) aka Reay, William

Place of Birth: Melbourne, VIC

Age: 36 years 5 months

Enlistment Details: Wednesday, 6 January 1915 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 1751            view online service record

Address:
Ross Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
Robert Gunn (brother)
Ross Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Tuesday, 13 April 1915
Ship: HMAT Wiltshire A18
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 6th Infantry Battalion – 4th Reinforcements

Fate:
KIA: Saturday, 7 August 1915
Place: Gallipoli Peninsula

Real Name: William Reay

Private, 6 Infantry, killed in action 7 August, 1915, Gallipoli, aged 38, commemorated Lone Pine Memorial.

Parents: Thomas and Christina REAY (both deceased), sister: Hannah Isabel ALLEN, born Port Melbourne, educated Albert Park Grammar School. He enlisted as a 36-year-old blacksmith showing a brother Robert GUNN as next of kin in Ross Street. The Attestation is marked “eldest brother insane” and it emerged that both Robert (true name REAY) and an elder brother Thomas in Yarraville were both declared insane and medals were eventually distributed to his sister Mrs Hannah ALLEN in West Brunswick. Port Melbourne Standard, 25 March, 1916 noted flags at the Town Hall flown at half-mast following his death (reported as Gunn).

Additional research by Brian Membrey

1916 ‘ELECTRIC SPARKS’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 25 March, p. 3. , viewed 25 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91167203