Vivian Walter Gray (1924 - 2010)

Born 17 Feb 1924 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Patricia Veronica Gleeson — married 1943 (to about 1955) in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Rosa (Chiacchietta) Gray — married about 2000 (to about 2005) in Sherbrook, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 2010 at age 86 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Norm Gray [send private message]

Biography

Viv Gray was born in Victoria, Australia

Vivian Walter Gray was born on 17 Feb 1924 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, son of Claude Leslie Gray (1899 - 1983) and Beatrice Lillian (Dixon) Gray (1903 - 1979).

He enlisted in the Australian Infantry Forces to serve during World War II.^[1]

Following his military service and undertaking resettlement training, his occupation was 'cabinet maker/estimator'.

His siblings were:

1. Margaret O. (Gray) Boyd (1930s - 2000s)
2. Cyril Bradley Gray (1921 - 1997)
3. Raymond Leslie Gray (1926 - 2007)
4. Norm J. Gray (1940s - living)

He married Patty Gleeson in 1943.^[2] A turbulent relationship ensured the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage that ended in divorce several years after the birth of their son, Allan. Perhaps it could be put down to a terrible choice of marital partner.

Some years later Viv met and duly married Heather Hart. Although the relationship endured years and was one of mutual respect and vastly more amiable than his first marriage, as a couple they had different interests and finally reached a point where they agreed to separate.

Viv remained a bachelor for quite a while before forming a close friendship with the widow, Rosa Chiacchietta, and eventually married. Vivian married Rosa Chiacchietta (~1930 - ~2005) in 2000 in Sherbrook, Victoria.

They were a very happy couple until Rosa was diagnosed with a terminal disease and, although Viv was happy to care for her, the adult children of her first marriage encouraged her to divorce, suggesting that it was "unfair to burden Viv with her condition & care". Viv believed that their motive was almost certainly financial.

Viv was broken-hearted about the divorce. but knew that it was in Rosa's best interest for him to agree rather than contest it. They remained close friends until Rosa's inevitable passing away. After that, he was never the same and was under constant medical treatment for depression.

His son shuffled him off to a nursing home where he was kept heavily sedated until he passed away in September 2010.^[3]Vivian died on 5 September 2010 in Ringwood, Victoria aged 86.

An extensive article was published in a Melbourne, Australia newspaper, the Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954), Friday 21 March 1947, Page 3, which reads ... ROOMS BEHIND SHOP Ex-Serviceman Gains Possession Under the War Service Moratorium Act, Vivian Walter Gray, carpenter, an ex-serviceman, of Stevedore Street, Williamstown, sought possession of a portion of premises at 39 Ferguson Street, owned by Ernest W. Jackson, member of the local Council, Mr W. O. Harris appeared for applicant and Mr A. J. Fowler for respondent. Evidence was given by the applicant that he enlisted for war service in October 1941, and was discharged on 8th January 1946, and had served in the Northern Territory and in Queensland. He had served notice on the respondent at his office in Ferguson, Street. Respondent refused to have witness as a tenant, saying he would give preference to a woman who was renting the shop part of the building in question. Witness had been informed by a Mr Ross that he was vacating the premises. Witness had a wife and child, and had only one bedroom. They were living in his parents' home under conditions of crowding. He had been to the Housing Commission in quest of a home, and had advertised without getting replies. He was expecting an addition to the family. In answer to Mr. Fowler witness said he had served notice on respondent on Friday evening, last. Respondent seemed annoyed, and would not discuss the matter any further. Mr Fowler said when the notice was served, the premises were not vacant. The front of the premises was a shop, and the rear portion consisted of two small rooms and a kitchenette. The premises had been let to a Mr. Ross, who had sublet the shop portion to a Mrs Howell. She, knowing that Mr. Ross was about to leave, had several times asked Mr Jackson to give her first preference for the whole of the premises. Respondent said he had let the premises to a Mr Ross some 15 months ago, and he had sublet the shop portion to Mrs. Howell, who was now in. possession of the whole of the premises. Mr Ross had been given the tenancy of the rooms as a favour, he being a returned naval man. On 11th inst. Ross told witness he had been lucky enough to get a house, and he would be vacating the premises. Witness told applicant he would not be agreeable for anyone else to go into the place. Mary Elizabeth Howell said she occupied the premises in conducting a knitwear business. She was living in Douglas Parade, with her daughter and son-in-law. Mr Meehan, P.M., said Mrs Howell did not seem to suffer any hardship when Mr Ross was living in the place, and it was clear that in this case the greater hardship was on the applicant. A warrant would issue requiring the owner to make the residential portion of the premises available to the applicant.

Occupation

Occupation: Cabinet Maker/Estimator

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑

   Australia World War II Military Service Records 1939-1945.
   Name	Vivian Walter Gray
   Birth Date	17 Feb 1923
   Birth Place	Williamstown, Victoria
   Year Range	1939-1948
   Enlistment Place	In the Field, Queensland
   Service Number	VX151787
   Next of Kin	Patricia Gray
   Series Description	B883	Army, 2nd AIF

2. ↑

   Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Victoria. Marriage Certificate
   Record information
   Event	Marriage
   Event registration number	359
   Registration year	1943
   Personal information
   Family name	GRAY
   Given names	Vivian Walter
   Sex	Male
   Spouse's family name	GLEESON
   Spouse's given names	Patricia Veronica

   https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/
3. ↑ Cemetery Records ...
   GRAY, Vivian Walter. Born: 17/02/1924. Died: 05/09/2010. Fawkner Memorial Park. Cremation: 09/09/2010
4. ↑ Gray-8336 was created by Norm Gray through the import of gray_families.GED on Oct 16, 2014.