John Denis Bray (11 January 1916 – 13 January 1982) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p.91.
Family The son of Melbourne footballer Joseph Michael Bray (1888–1955),Law Notices, The Argus, (Thursday, 13 October 1955), p.18. and Mary Helena Bray (1886–1971), née Murphy, John Denis Bray was born at Malvern, Victoria on 11 January 1916.
He married Elizabeth Mary Persia Gladys Coram (1909–2004), known as Gladys, on 5 August 1939.Coutts, Bob, "Malvern Not Likely to Reach Four", The Herald, (Friday, 11 August 1939), p.18. They had five children, John, Judith, Sherrill, Lorraine, and Peter.
Football Ormond (VAFA) He began his senior football with the Ormond Amateur Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in 1935. He was Ormond's captain in 1937, 1938, and 1939.Coutts, Bob, "Collegians Favored Against Banks", The Herald, (Friday, 6 May 1938), p.18.Coutts, Bob, "No Changes Likely in Amateur Four", The Herald, (Friday, 4 August 1939), p.18.
St Kilda (VFL) Having tried out with Richmond in 1937,Richmond: Filling the Gaps, The Age, (Monday, 12 April 1937), p.5.Richmond: Henderson Doubtful, The Age, (Wednesday, 28 July 1937), p.17. he went to St Kilda in 1940.Taylor, Percy, "League Teams Reshuffled: St. Kilda Recruits: S. Dyer Returns", The Argus, (Friday, 26 July 1940), p.14. With no chance of playing in the finals, and preparing for the next season, St Kilda used the last games of the 1940 season to give several of its best Seconds players senior experience. Promoted from the Seconds, he played in the last three home-and-away matches of the 1940 season for St Kilda: along with Marcus Hines, Bray's first senior game was against North Melbourne, at Arden Street, on 27 July 1940.
In his final match of the 1940 season, against Carlton, at Prices Park, on 17 August 1940,League Teams: Carlton v. St. Kilda, The Argus, (Friday, 16 August 1940), p.14. he was involved in a fierce confrontation in the third quarter. Bray was reported for striking Carlton's Jack Hale, and Carlton's Ron Savage was reported for charging Bray.Three Players Reported, The Age, (Monday, 19 August 1940), p.10. Both players were found guilty, and were disqualified for four matches.Football: Two Players Suspended: J. Bray and Savage, The Argus, (Wednesday, 21 August 1940), p.14.Rough Carlton Game: Two Suspensions, The Age, (Wednesday 21 August 1940), p.6. Having served his suspension, he played in each of the 14 remaining home-and-away matches in the 1941 season.
Ormond (VAFA) In 1946, when the VAFA competition had resumed from its five-year wartime suspension, Bray was once again playing for Ormond.Coutts, Bob, "Chandler Near Record", The Herald, (Thursday, 9 May 1946), p.21. He retired at the end of the 1947 season, having played almost 150 VAFA games with Ormond.Coutts, Bob, "Ormond Likely in Semi-Final", The Herald, (Thursday, 28 August 1947), p.25.Amateur Football, The Herald, (Thursday, 22 April 1948), p.11.
Military service He enlisted in the Second AIF on 1 September 1942, and was discharged on 28 November 1945.
Death He died (suddenly) while visiting family in Dunedin, New Zealand on 13 January 1982.Deaths: Bray, The Age, (14 January 1982), p.18. He was buried at Green Park Cemetery, Waldronville, New Zealand.Green Park Cemetery Archives
Notes
References World War Two Nominal Roll: Lance Bombardier John Denis Bray (VX102523), Department of Veterans' Affairs. World War Two Service Record: Lance Bombardier John Denis Bray (VX102523), National Archives of Australia. de Lacy, H.A., "South Australians Win Army Football: Victorian Unit Outplayed", The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 7 October 1942), p.15.
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