Lieutenant Hampton Gray

VICTORIA CROSS - POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray was born in Trail, BC on November 2, 1917.
In July of 1940, Robert left the University of British Columbia to join the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and sailed to the United Kingdom in September. In 1942, he qualified for his wings, was commissioned, and sent on fighter operational training. From July 1942, he served on various squadrons in Africa on fleet support duties. In 1944, he was appointed Senior Pilot of the 1841 Squadron aboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Formidable. During August of that year, Formidable and her squadrons took part in two attacks on the German battleship, Tirpitz. Gray was mentioned in despatches for his part in the action. In September, Formidable was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet where strikes were carried out against Japanese naval and air forces, shipping, shipyards, and coastal objectives. The Squadron of Formidable’s Air Group took part in these operations until hostilities ceased.

On July 28, 1945, Robert led a low-level strike against the naval base at Maisuru, north of Kyoto, and his own bombs sank a destroyer. This attack resulted in Gray receiving an immediate Award of the Distinguished Service Cross.
On August 9, 1945, Hampton Gray and his flight of Corsair fighter-bombers lifted off the deck of the Formidable on a 200-mile mission to attack Japanese warships at anchor on Onagawa Bay.

Gray led the attack and was hit almost at once, but he held his course to release his bombs at the last possible second, to sink the ocean escort Amakusa before crashing to his death in the water.

Lieutenant Hampton Gray was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military award that can be received in the United Kingdom, the last Canadian to be so honoured.

Other medals won by Lieutenant Hampton Gray include the Distinguished Service Cross, 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, War Medal 1939-1945, and Mentioned- In-Despatches.