William Gray was born near Gawler, South Australia. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide and graduated in Divinity from Union College in 1880, the first Presbyterian student to complete the course. He spent 1881, the year of his ordination, in medical training at Adelaide Hospital and as Minister to the congregations of Goodwood and Mount Barker. He married Elizabeth McEwen in 1882 and shortly after they sailed for Weasisi, Tanna, New Hebrides in the 'Dayspring'. Gray was the first Presbyterian Church of South Australia missionary to the New Hebrides. He produced a grammar, primer, hymnal and translation of Luke's Gospel in the Tanna language. Six of his seven children were born on Tanna. At the age of 71 Gray became head of the Smith of Dunesk Presbyterians Mission which later became the nucleus of John Flynn's Australian Inland Mission.

Gray was an outspoken advocate for the end of the Melanesian labour trade.

Elizabeth McEwen was born in 1857, daughter of John McEwen. She married Reverend William Gray at her father's house in 1882. Shortly after their marriage, they sailed for Weasisi, Tanna, New Hebrides in the 'Dayspring'. Elizabeth is described as being deeply committed to the Christian mission in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu). Six of their seven children were born on Tanna. Like her husband, she held concerns about the Pacific labour trade.

Naval officer, born 9 October 1887 at Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Son of Captain Christopher Garsia and Elizabeth Parker Garsia (nee Watson). Educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and later in England on HMS Britannia (the Royal Navy's training ship). Brother of Lieutenant Oliver Dunham Melville Garsia, Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry (Information from Auckland War Memorial Museum cenotaph records).