West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Friday 7 October 1949, page 2


MR. F. I. BIAY DEAD Long Civil Service Career Mr. F. I. Bray, a former Commissioner of Native Affairs who retired in 1947, died in the St. John of God Hospital yesterday afternoon at the age of 66 years. He was admitted to hospital on Sunday morning. The -late Mr. Bray was for nearly 51 years in the State public service. Born at Bunbury and educated in Perth. he joined the then Premier's Office in 1896, and for some years as a junior

The late Mr. F. L BRAY.

he was in attendance on Sir John (later Lord) Forrest. After experience in'various Government departments he served as ministerial clerk to successive Chief Secretaries and leaders of the Legislative Council. In 1937 he was transferred to the Department of Native Affairs as Deputy Chief Protector of Aborigines and three years later he assumed charge of the department as commissioner. During service in World War I. when he went to France with the Australian artillery as a warrantofficer first class, he received the Meritorious Service Medal and was mentioned in dispatches. A prominent member of the West Australian Historical Society, the late Mr. Bray wrote a number of historical papers on the early days of the State. He was formerly . a member of the State Archives Board and the State Advisory Committee on Nomenclature. He was interested in the Young Australia League, and was a founder of the Union Football Club, which in 1906 was merged with the present East Perth Football Club.