RAY, Joseph Leslie (Ben)

Name – RAY, Joseph Leslie (Ben)
Born – 1/02/1913
Died – 5/09/1935
Location – No 19 Anglican Section
Mother – Alice May Reibelt
Father – Joseph Henry Ray

Notes – Joseph leslie (Ben as he was known) was born to Alice May (nee Reibelt) and Joseph Henry Ray on the 1st February, 1913. He had siblings of Mary, Norman, Evelyn, Lindsay and Edna.

There is a newspaper article on young Ben winning a prize in 1924 for a fancy dress ball as he was dressed as a swaggie. And in 1927 best dressed as a newspaper boy.

Ben was a very good sportsman, and two months before he died he was playing in a football match at Meandarra with Tara playing Glenmorgan. Read here.

His parents married on the 18th October, 1911. At that time Joseph snr was a butcher at Inglewood. By 1925 they are living at Brigalow Creek, Condamine. Then most of their time was between Miles and Glenmorgan, with Joseph snr being a labourer or back to a slaughterman.

Ben died from pneumonia. It was a waste of such a young otherwise healthy young man. He has a headstone that reads – In loving memory of Joseph Leslie Ray. Died 5th Sept, 1935 Aged 22 years.

Newspaper Article – Read here.

War Service File  –

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.