COLONEL WILLIAM DRAY

Born in Kent, England, William Dray gained his early education in public and private schools before coming to Canada in his youth.  From Feversham, Ont., he entered The Army's Training College in Toronto, and was commissioned as an Officer in 1910. He served for three years in Field operations and was then appointed to the Immigration and Colonization work at Headquarters in Toronto.

Colonel Dray was associated for twenty-seven years with the Army's  Colonization work and ten years was Resident Secretary for Canada in this department. During that period, he was responsible for the reception, settlement and placement of more than 200,000 British persons, including families. single women, youths for farms,

In 1939, Colonel Dray was appointed to take charge of Red Shield War Services which. Had come into being at the beginning of hostilities. He has travelled widely, speaking to many clubs and organizations, and addressing public meetings from coast to coast.

In 1941, at the request of the Department of National Defence, Colonel Dray accompanied representatives of the three services to Newfoundland for the purpose of establishing Auxiliary Service Centres in that area. Later in the same year, the Colonel inspected Salvation Army War Services in Great Britain and on the continent. For his untiring work on behalf of Canadian Servicemen he was awarded the O.B.E.

At the conclusion of the war, the Colonel was appointed Territorial Public Relations Secretary and National Campaign Director. On January 5, 1948, he assumed the responsible post of Chief Secretary -second - in - command of The Army in Canada, Newfoundland and Bermuda.

In 1920, he married Captain Florence Jones, a Field Officer, and they have four children. Mrs. Colonel Dray was active in Red Shield Women's Auxiliary Work, and all members of the family are engaged in some form of Salvation Army activity.