Robert Hampton Gray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Robert Hampton Gray | |
|---|---|
| November 2, 1917 - August 9, 1945 | |
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| Nickname | Hammy |
| Place of birth | Trail, British Columbia, Canada |
| Place of death | Onagawa Wan, Honshū, Japan |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch | Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve |
| Years of service | 1940 - 1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 1841 Squadron, HMS Formidable |
| Awards | Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Cross |
Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC (November 2, 1917 - August 9, 1945) was a Canadian naval officer, pilot, and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) during World War II, one of only two members of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to have been thus decorated in that war.
Gray was born in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. In 1940, following education at the University of Alberta and University of British Columbia, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Sent to England for training, he qualified as a pilot for the British Fleet Air Arm in September, 1941.
Gray was first assigned to the African theatre, flying Hawker Hurricanes for shore-based squadrons. After two years in Africa, he trained to fly the Corsair fighter and in 1944 he was assigned to 1841 Squadron, based on HMS Formidable. In August 1944, he took part in a series of unsuccessful raids against the German battleship Tirpitz, in Norway. On August 29, 1944, he was mentioned in dispatches for his participation in an attack on three destroyers, during which his plane's rudder was shot off.
In April 1945, HMS Formidable joined the British Pacific Fleet. By July 1945, the carrier was involved in strikes on the Japanese mainland. Gray earned a DSC for aiding in sinking a Japanese destroyer in the area of Tokyo.
On August 9, 1945 at Onagawa Wan, Honshū, Japan, Lieutenant Gray led an attack on a Japanese destroyer. In the face of fire from shore batteries and heavy concentration of fire from some five warships, he pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success. Although he was wounded and his aircraft in flames he obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. His aircraft crashed into the bay. Gray was one of the last Canadians to die during World War II, and was the last Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross. His VC is displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Gray's act of bravery was so impressive that even his enemies honored him in 2006 in a memorial service for the brave Canadian pilot.
As Gray's remains were never found, he was listed as missing in action and presumed dead. He is commemorated, with other Canadians who died or were buried at sea during the First and Second World Wars, at the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia. A memorial to Gray also exists at Onagawa Wan, just metres away from where his plane crashed; this is the only memorial dedicated to a foreign soldier on Japanese soil. The Royal Canadian Legion hall in Nelson, British Columbia also bears a plaque in his honour.
Gray is one of fourteen figures commemorated at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa.
A cousin of Gray, filmmaker Ian Herring, in 2005 made a fictionalized film about him, The Last Battle of Hampton Gray, starring Devin Johnston.
[edit] References
- Soward, Stuart E.. A brilliant flying spirit: Lt. Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, RCNVR. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
- Veterans Affairs Canada. Lt. Robert Hampton Gray. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
