Thomas Gray (VC)

Thomas Gray
Born	17 May 1914 (1914-05-17) Urchfont, England
Died	12 May 1940 (1940-05-13) (aged 25) Maastricht, Netherlands
Buried at	Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1929 – 1940 †
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	No. 12 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Thomas Gray VC (17 May 1914 – 12 May 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 25 years old, and a sergeant in No. 12 Squadron RAF, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12 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 despatched 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 (Donald Edward Garland) of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Unfortunately the leading aircraft and three others did not return.

Gray is buried at the Heverlee War Cemetery near Leuven in Belgium.

Memorial

A Vickers VC-10 Serial 'XR807' of 101 Squadron is named 'Donald Garland VC & Thomas Gray VC'

References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Flying Officer D.E. Garland & Sergeant T. Grey in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• Find-A-Grave profile for Thomas Gray