William Thomas Reay

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William Thomas Reay (1858 - 11 November 1929), Australian journalist, newspaper editor and politician, was born near Sydney, and was awarded the O.B.E. in 1917 and C.B.E. in 1920.

The son of a British sailmaker, Reay had a varied career before holding newspaper editorial positions, notably for the Hamilton Spectator, the Melbourne Daily Telegraph and Herald.

He later became an officer in the Victorian Mounted Rifles from 1886, and fought in the Anglo-Boer War. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, having been elected in 1900 as member for East Bourke Boroughs, describing himself as Radical, voting with Labor. On his return he wrote Australians in War, widely distributed to Victorian soldiers. He resumed his newspaper career, moving to London as the Herald's representative in 1911 where he stayed until his death, also becoming Inspector General of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary during WW1

William Reay died at Woolwich Memorial Hospital, London, and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery.