Robert Hampton Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hampton Gray
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| Nickname(s) | Hammy |
| Born | November 2, 1917 Trail, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | August 9, 1945 (aged 27) Onagawa, Honshū, Japanese Empire |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ |
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve |
| Years of service | 1940–45 † |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 1841 Squadron, HMS Formidable |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
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| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray, VC, DSC, was a brave Canadian naval officer and pilot. He was born on November 2, 1917, and sadly died on August 9, 1945. He received the Victoria Cross (VC) during World War II. This is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He was one of only two pilots in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to get this award during the war. Robert Gray was also the second-to-last Canadian to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Robert Gray was born in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in Nelson, where his father worked as a jeweller. After studying at the University of Alberta and University of British Columbia, he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) in 1940. He first went to England for training, then returned to Canada to train as a pilot at RCAF Station Kingston.
War Service: A Pilot's Journey
Fighting in Africa and Norway
Gray started his flying career with a naval air squadron in England. He then moved to Africa, where he flew Hawker Hurricane planes for two years.
Later, he learned to fly the Vought F4U Corsair fighter plane. In 1944, he joined a squadron based on the ship HMS Formidable. From August 24 to 29, 1944, he took part in attacks called Operation Goodwood. These attacks tried to sink the powerful German battleship Tirpitz in Norway, but they were not successful.
On August 29, 1944, Gray was recognized for his bravery in an attack on three German destroyers. His plane's rudder was shot off during this mission. He was again recognized on January 16, 1945, for his "undaunted courage" in attacking the Tirpitz.
Missions in Japan
In April 1945, HMS Formidable joined the British Pacific Fleet. This fleet was involved in the Battle of Okinawa, a major invasion. By July 1945, the ship was attacking targets on the Japanese mainland.
On July 18, Gray led a mission to attack airfields near Tokyo. On July 24, he led another flight that damaged a merchant ship and two seaplane bases. Gray earned a Distinguished Service Cross for helping to sink a Japanese destroyer near Tokyo on July 28. This award was announced later, on August 21, 1945, for his "determination and address in air attacks on targets in Japan."
His Final, Brave Act
On August 9, 1945, Lieutenant Gray led an attack on Japanese naval ships in Onagawa Bay, Japan. He was flying a Vought F4U Corsair. He bravely attacked a group of ships, sinking the Etorofu-class escort ship Amakusa. Even though his plane was hit and caught fire, he kept going. He made sure his bombs hit the target, sinking the enemy ship. After this brave act, his plane crashed into the bay.
The award for his Victoria Cross said he showed "great valour" and "brilliant fighting spirit." He was one of the last Canadians to die in World War II and the last Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross. His family still owns his Victoria Cross today.
Awards and Honors
Robert Gray received several important awards for his bravery and service:
| Ribbon | Award |
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Victoria Cross (VC) |
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Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
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1939–1945 Star |
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Atlantic Star |
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Africa Star |
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Pacific Star |
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Defence Medal (United Kingdom) |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
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War Medal 1939–1945 with Mentioned in dispatches |
Remembering a Hero
Since Robert Gray's body was never found, he is remembered at the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia. This memorial honors Canadians who died or were buried at sea during the World Wars. Many places also have plaques in his honor, including the War Memorial Gym at the University of British Columbia.
Memorial in Japan
In 1989, a special memorial for Gray was built in Sakiyama Park at Onagawa Bay, Japan. This is the only memorial in Japan dedicated to a foreign soldier. After a big earthquake in 2011, the monument was moved to a new spot near the hospital in Onagawa Town. A new dedication ceremony was held in 2012.
Other Tributes
- Robert Gray is one of fourteen heroes honored at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa, Canada.
- In 2010, a special plane, a Corsair, was flown at air shows across Canada. It had the same markings as the plane Gray flew on his last mission.
- A book about his life, A Formidable Hero: Lt. R.H. Gray, VC, DSC, RCNVR, was written by Stuart E. Soward.
Grays Peak, British Columbia
On March 12, 1946, a mountain in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, British Columbia, was named Grays Peak. It was named after Robert Gray and his brother, Flt Sgt John Balfour Gray, who also died in World War II. This mountain is 2,753 meters tall and is famous for being on the label of Kokanee Beer.
Hampton Gray Memorial Elementary
An elementary school at CFB Shearwater, a Canadian Forces Base, is named after Robert Gray.
Kingston Norman Rogers Airport
Robert Gray trained at No. 31 Service Flying Training School in Kingston, Ontario. There is a Harvard training aircraft, like the one he flew, mounted on a pedestal with a memorial dedicated to him. The road leading to the airport terminal is also named Hampton Gray Gate.
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Nelson, British Columbia, is named 81 Hampton Gray, VC Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps.
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
In 2012, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets created a new squadron in his honor. It is called 789 Lt. R. Hampton Gray VC Squadron and is located in Mississauga, Ontario.
Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
One of the new ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, a Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel, will be named after Robert Gray.
Brechin, Angus, Scotland
The Gray family headstone in Brechin Cemetery, Scotland, was restored in 2021. A short service was held there on the 76th anniversary of his death. The headstone remembers both Robert and his brother, Flight Sergeant John (Jack) Balfour Gray, who died in 1942. A new street in Brechin will also be named Hampton Gray Way.
