20
Four: Pilot Officer A. L. Gray, Royal Air Force, who was killed on active service in North Afri...
1/2
Auctioneer has chosen not to publish the price of this lot
London
Description
Four: Pilot Officer A. L. Gray, Royal Air Force, who was killed on active service in North Africa, the result of a collision between his Spitfire and a Kittyhawk
India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (543388 L.A.C. A. L. Gray, R.A.F.), in its named card box of issue, Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (4)
Albert Lionel Gray was born in Abingdon, Northamptonshire on 23 November 1918, the son of Albert Edward and Clara Maria Gray. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force in June 1937 and was posted to India with No. 21 (Bomber) Squadron, followed by the Far East with No. 11 Squadron until November 1939.
Gray subsequently undertook pilot training and was appointed to a temporary commission in June 1943, prior to being killed on active service on 22 October 1943. As stated, the result of a collision between his aircraft Spitfire P9311 and a Kittyhawk, on take-off from Abu Sueir airfield. He is buried at Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt. A contemporary newspaper article adds a little more information:
'Rugby Pilot Officer Killed - Shortly After Meeting Brother
Shortly after receiving a photograph of their two sons, taken in their R.A.F. uniform, when they met at Aboukir, Alexandria, recently, for the first time for five years, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Gray, 21, Crick Road, Rugby, had the sad news that the elder boy, Pilot Officer Albert Lionel John Gray, had been killed.
The Pilot Officer, who was aged 25, was educated at East Ham, London, and joined the R.A.F. seven years ago. He had seen service in seven campaigns, including India, North Africa, Crete, Greece and Singapore, and was decorated with a medal (of which he told his parents nothing) for his work in the North-West Frontier fighting. At the fall of Greece he was reported missing but returned to his base seven months later.
When the two brothers met at Aboukir they managed to spend four days leave together. Alan, the younger, has had nearly seven years' service in the R.A.F. and has been in the Middle East for the last two and a half years.'
Sold with an original and poignant archive comprising portrait photograph of Gray; condolence slip to Pilot Officer A. L. Gray; forwarding letter for I.G.S.M; original card box of issue for I.G.S.M., and paper envelope; box of transmission for WW2 medals, medal entitlement slip; contemporary newspaper article and copies of service details; R.A.F. embroidered Wings, mounted upon clear Perspex, with safety pin, rank slides and riband bar for the I.G.S.M. housed in a naive wooden case of African bazaar manufacture, as sent to his family, together with R.A.F. Officer's side cap, inscribed in ink to interior, 'P/O GRAY'.
Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (543388 L.A.C. A. L. Gray, R.A.F.), in its named card box of issue, Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (4)
Albert Lionel Gray was born in Abingdon, Northamptonshire on 23 November 1918, the son of Albert Edward and Clara Maria Gray. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force in June 1937 and was posted to India with No. 21 (Bomber) Squadron, followed by the Far East with No. 11 Squadron until November 1939.
Gray subsequently undertook pilot training and was appointed to a temporary commission in June 1943, prior to being killed on active service on 22 October 1943. As stated, the result of a collision between his aircraft Spitfire P9311 and a Kittyhawk, on take-off from Abu Sueir airfield. He is buried at Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt. A contemporary newspaper article adds a little more information:
'Rugby Pilot Officer Killed - Shortly After Meeting Brother
Shortly after receiving a photograph of their two sons, taken in their R.A.F. uniform, when they met at Aboukir, Alexandria, recently, for the first time for five years, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Gray, 21, Crick Road, Rugby, had the sad news that the elder boy, Pilot Officer Albert Lionel John Gray, had been killed.
The Pilot Officer, who was aged 25, was educated at East Ham, London, and joined the R.A.F. seven years ago. He had seen service in seven campaigns, including India, North Africa, Crete, Greece and Singapore, and was decorated with a medal (of which he told his parents nothing) for his work in the North-West Frontier fighting. At the fall of Greece he was reported missing but returned to his base seven months later.
When the two brothers met at Aboukir they managed to spend four days leave together. Alan, the younger, has had nearly seven years' service in the R.A.F. and has been in the Middle East for the last two and a half years.'
Sold with an original and poignant archive comprising portrait photograph of Gray; condolence slip to Pilot Officer A. L. Gray; forwarding letter for I.G.S.M; original card box of issue for I.G.S.M., and paper envelope; box of transmission for WW2 medals, medal entitlement slip; contemporary newspaper article and copies of service details; R.A.F. embroidered Wings, mounted upon clear Perspex, with safety pin, rank slides and riband bar for the I.G.S.M. housed in a naive wooden case of African bazaar manufacture, as sent to his family, together with R.A.F. Officer's side cap, inscribed in ink to interior, 'P/O GRAY'.
Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
Four: Pilot Officer A. L. Gray, Royal Air Force, who was killed on active service in North Africa, the result of a collision between his Spitfire and a Kittyhawk
India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (543388 L.A.C. A. L. Gray, R.A.F.), in its named card box of issue, Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (4)
Albert Lionel Gray was born in Abingdon, Northamptonshire on 23 November 1918, the son of Albert Edward and Clara Maria Gray. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force in June 1937 and was posted to India with No. 21 (Bomber) Squadron, followed by the Far East with No. 11 Squadron until November 1939.
Gray subsequently undertook pilot training and was appointed to a temporary commission in June 1943, prior to being killed on active service on 22 October 1943. As stated, the result of a collision between his aircraft Spitfire P9311 and a Kittyhawk, on take-off from Abu Sueir airfield. He is buried at Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt. A contemporary newspaper article adds a little more information:
'Rugby Pilot Officer Killed - Shortly After Meeting Brother
Shortly after receiving a photograph of their two sons, taken in their R.A.F. uniform, when they met at Aboukir, Alexandria, recently, for the first time for five years, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Gray, 21, Crick Road, Rugby, had the sad news that the elder boy, Pilot Officer Albert Lionel John Gray, had been killed.
The Pilot Officer, who was aged 25, was educated at East Ham, London, and joined the R.A.F. seven years ago. He had seen service in seven campaigns, including India, North Africa, Crete, Greece and Singapore, and was decorated with a medal (of which he told his parents nothing) for his work in the North-West Frontier fighting. At the fall of Greece he was reported missing but returned to his base seven months later.
When the two brothers met at Aboukir they managed to spend four days leave together. Alan, the younger, has had nearly seven years' service in the R.A.F. and has been in the Middle East for the last two and a half years.'
Sold with an original and poignant archive comprising portrait photograph of Gray; condolence slip to Pilot Officer A. L. Gray; forwarding letter for I.G.S.M; original card box of issue for I.G.S.M., and paper envelope; box of transmission for WW2 medals, medal entitlement slip; contemporary newspaper article and copies of service details; R.A.F. embroidered Wings, mounted upon clear Perspex, with safety pin, rank slides and riband bar for the I.G.S.M. housed in a naive wooden case of African bazaar manufacture, as sent to his family, together with R.A.F. Officer's side cap, inscribed in ink to interior, 'P/O GRAY'.
Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (543388 L.A.C. A. L. Gray, R.A.F.), in its named card box of issue, Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (4)
Albert Lionel Gray was born in Abingdon, Northamptonshire on 23 November 1918, the son of Albert Edward and Clara Maria Gray. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force in June 1937 and was posted to India with No. 21 (Bomber) Squadron, followed by the Far East with No. 11 Squadron until November 1939.
Gray subsequently undertook pilot training and was appointed to a temporary commission in June 1943, prior to being killed on active service on 22 October 1943. As stated, the result of a collision between his aircraft Spitfire P9311 and a Kittyhawk, on take-off from Abu Sueir airfield. He is buried at Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt. A contemporary newspaper article adds a little more information:
'Rugby Pilot Officer Killed - Shortly After Meeting Brother
Shortly after receiving a photograph of their two sons, taken in their R.A.F. uniform, when they met at Aboukir, Alexandria, recently, for the first time for five years, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Gray, 21, Crick Road, Rugby, had the sad news that the elder boy, Pilot Officer Albert Lionel John Gray, had been killed.
The Pilot Officer, who was aged 25, was educated at East Ham, London, and joined the R.A.F. seven years ago. He had seen service in seven campaigns, including India, North Africa, Crete, Greece and Singapore, and was decorated with a medal (of which he told his parents nothing) for his work in the North-West Frontier fighting. At the fall of Greece he was reported missing but returned to his base seven months later.
When the two brothers met at Aboukir they managed to spend four days leave together. Alan, the younger, has had nearly seven years' service in the R.A.F. and has been in the Middle East for the last two and a half years.'
Sold with an original and poignant archive comprising portrait photograph of Gray; condolence slip to Pilot Officer A. L. Gray; forwarding letter for I.G.S.M; original card box of issue for I.G.S.M., and paper envelope; box of transmission for WW2 medals, medal entitlement slip; contemporary newspaper article and copies of service details; R.A.F. embroidered Wings, mounted upon clear Perspex, with safety pin, rank slides and riband bar for the I.G.S.M. housed in a naive wooden case of African bazaar manufacture, as sent to his family, together with R.A.F. Officer's side cap, inscribed in ink to interior, 'P/O GRAY'.
Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Orders, Decorations and Medals
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
67-69 Southampton Row
Bloomsbury
WC1B 4ET
London
WC1B 4ET
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If required our shipping department may arrange shipment as your agent. Although we may suggest carriers if specifically requested, our suggestions are made on the basis of our general experience of such parties in the past and we are not responsible to any person to whom we have made a recommendation for the acts or omissions of the third parties concerned
Important Information
SALEROOM NOTICES:
Lot 56: The recipient was also Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1945, refers) and is sold together with her emblem.
Lot 285: Official replacements throughout
Lot 326: The Lot is now accompanied with the recipient’s original Memorial Scroll
Lot 373: Withdrawn. The Lot has been withdrawn from the Sale and has kindly been returned to the recipient by the vendor having been lost in 2015.
Lot 561: This lot is NOT subject to 5% import duty.
Lot 580: Print catalogue erroneously lists this item as lot 579
Lot 595:
Accompanied with an important original archive comprising;
- The recipient’s identity tag worn at Goose Green
- Parachute Regiment No. 2 Dress with General Service riband and belt, the first named
- A poignant painted tile depicting the recipient with his tours of Northern Ireland either side
- Three British Army football trophies
Two Regimental ties
Lot 648: The set comprises a 1st Class Badge and 2nd Class Star
Lot 670: Withdrawn
Lot 754: Sold as viewed
Lot 791: Centre depressed and loose but still present. Revised estimate £70 - £90
An invoice showing the total amount due, including buyer’s premium, taxes, postage charges and other fees will be sent to buyers directly by Spink.
For full details please see the Spink Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Taxes may vary, so ensure that you pay attention to the location of the sale in relation to your own location
Terms & Conditions
Please see here
