Thomas Gray
Sergeant, 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 484 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force (register: No. 12 Squadron RAF) all No. 12 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 May 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 11th June 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 17th May 1914 at Urchfont, Devizes, Wiltshire
- Died
- 12th May, 1940 at Maastricht, Holland
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium. (killed in action). buried side by side in the Belgian graveyard at Louvain, the Heverlee War Cemetery, as they all bravely Died on together
Digest of citation
On 12th May, 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were dispatched with Sergeant Gray as the navigator in the plane leading the bombing attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, much of the success being due to the coolness and resource of the pilot * of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Unfortunately the leading aircraft and three others did not return
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRAY, Thomas. (reg No. 484).
Sergeant . 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
London Gazetted on 11th June 1940.
Born on 17th May 1914 at Urchfont, Devizes, Wiltshire.
Died on 12th May, 1940 at Maastricht, Holland.
Memorial at Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium. (killed in action).
Digest of Citation reads: On 12th May, 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were dispatched with Sergeant Gray as the navigator in the plane leading the bombing attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, much of the success being due to the coolness and resource of the pilot * of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Unfortunately the leading aircraft and three others did not return.
* D.E. Garland (reg No. 443).
Additional information:. In the aircraft with Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray was Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Reynolds, the air gunner. LAC Reynolds was not even mentioned in the citation, although along with Garland and Gray he was a vital part of this brave, but suicidal, attack. He is recorded here as my tribute to the third-man. It is fitting that the three men, crew of the Fairey Battle, are buried side by side in the Belgian graveyard at Louvain, the Heverlee War Cemetery, as they all bravely Died on together.
Additional information
In the aircraft with Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray was Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Reynolds, the air gunner. LAC Reynolds was not even mentioned in the citation, although along with Garland and Gray he was a vital part of this brave, but suicidal, attack. He is recorded here as my tribute to the third-man. It is fitting that the three men, crew of the Fairey Battle, are
* D.E. Garland (reg No. 443).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium. (killed in action). buried side by side in the Belgian graveyard at Louvain, the Heverlee War Cemetery, as they all bravely Died on together
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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