Arrivals into Queensland or NSW in the 1970s

[JaneyJ]

Hi All,

I am hoping that someone could offer me some advice.

I am looking for a family friend (he is no longer alive) who went to Australia in the 1970s or 1980s from the Lothians in Scotland.

I have very few details about him, all my information comes from childhood memories, and I have no living relations from that era that I can ask.

What I know is:

His name was John (Jock) GRAY.
He was born abt 1920 to 1930 in the West Lothian or Midlothian area of Scotland.
He was a Coal Miner and a member of the Pit Rescue Team.
He served in Korea in the 1950s
He was married, but I do not know his wife's name.
He only lived in Australia for a few years, then returned home to Scotland.

I have guessed that he went to Queensland or NSW as there is large coal mining industry in these places...unless you can tell me differently...

I know this is all very vague, but any suggestions would be most helpful, over here (England) my research resources only allow me to search up to 1960.

Yours Hopefully
Jane.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Can you clarify exactly what type of info you are looking for?

If he returned to Scotland - he presumably died there so if you are researching his ancestry, a copy of his death cert will give you his parents names and his mothers maiden name.

The timespans you give are very wide ones and could describe many with that same name which makes looking at passenger lists difficult

born 1920-1930

Emigrated 1970's or 1980's

When you say he was from The Lothians - do you mean he was actually born there or just lived there - possibly after marriage.  The reason I ask is that a basic search on Scotlands People for a birth for John Gray between 1920-1930 gives matches as follows:


Midlothian = 60
East Lothian = 5
West Lothian = 8

[JaneyJ]

Hi Carole,

I can't be more specific I'm afraid, as I said, it is all from memory from over 45 years ago.

I was hoping to gather as many John Gray's arriving in Australia in this time period as I could, which would help me narrow my search on SP (I had already come up with the same figures as you  .

I don't know for sure if he was born in the Lothians, but he did live there, and I believe his father was a Miner, so it is "likely" he was born there....

I am going back up to Edinburgh in the next couple of months and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can to narrow the search, so anything no matter how small might help.

Jane

[~MERLIN~]

His war service record would also give you a lot of details, as there are far too many John Gray's to enable us to help you in any proper search.

This is an emigration possibility...  but I have no way to prove it's him 

GRAY John born 22 June 1930; arrived with a wife & two children: travelled per BRITANIS departing Southampton on 23 March 1973 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme.

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx

[JaneyJ]

Hi Merlin,

Thankyou for your reply.
I forgot to say that he did not have any children.
The web site you have attached is very helpful, thank you so much, it is just what I'm looking for, I'm off to have a search.... .

I can't access his war records unless I pop down to London....another train ride....love this hobby don't you think.

Once again a big thankyou. 

[JaneyJ]

Hi Merlin,

Great site....I've found 6 possibles and a couple of maybe's, it will help narrow my search when I go to Edinburgh.

Once again a Big Thankyou.

Jane.

[andycand]

Hi Jane

Unfortunately the link to the National Archives that Merlin gave you is not a complete index of migrants, I'm not on it and neither are others I have looked up that I know migrated.

I can't access his war records unless I pop down to London....another train ride....love this hobby don't you think.

Service records post 1921? are still held by the Ministry of Defence, closest next of kin can apply for a copy see link below.

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

Electoral Rolls for some states are on Ancestry but it would be helpful to confirm both his and his wifes full name as John Gray is not uncommon.

Andy

[JaneyJ]

Hi Andy,

Thank you for the link, I'll give it a try tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

I forgot all about the electoral rolls....I think I've been searching too long  ..its official I am brain dead 

I wish I could remember more about John, believe it or not this is how I found my Father's brother, it led me to Cousins in Australia, an Aunt in Greece and an Uncle in Scotland. Once I get the bit between my teeth I can't let go.

Once again many thanks for your help, people on this site are so helpful.

Jane.

[Billyblue]

" I have guessed that he went to Queensland or NSW as there is large coal mining industry in these places...unless you can tell me differently... "

Coal mining is also carried out in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
In fact, every state of Australia (but not in the territories of ACT & NT)

Dawn M