Roderick Borden Gray
Encyclopedia
Flying Officer Roderick Borden Gray, GC
(1917–1944) of the Royal Canadian Air Force
was posthumously awarded the George Cross
for his self sacrifice in putting the lives of his comrades ahead of his own.
After being shot down on over the Atlantic on August 27, 1944 by an enemy fighter, he helped two wounded crewmen into a dinghy but refused to climb aboard it himself, fearing it would capsize and imperil them all. Despite his own severe injuries he clung to the side of the dinghy instead, losing consciousness after several hours in the frigid water and drowning. His colleagues were eventually rescued and their account prompted the award. He was originally nominated for the Albert Medal
. Notice of his award appeared in the London Gazette
on March 13, 1945.
The 155 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron is named in his honor.
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=roderick+borden+gray&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=iP5ujHcWpCw0SM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ww2awards.com/person/519&docid=aX1J0AmCT_1n0M&w=100&h=150&ei=15OSTvCNNNGctweol-yUDA&zoom=1
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(1917–1944) of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for his self sacrifice in putting the lives of his comrades ahead of his own.
After being shot down on over the Atlantic on August 27, 1944 by an enemy fighter, he helped two wounded crewmen into a dinghy but refused to climb aboard it himself, fearing it would capsize and imperil them all. Despite his own severe injuries he clung to the side of the dinghy instead, losing consciousness after several hours in the frigid water and drowning. His colleagues were eventually rescued and their account prompted the award. He was originally nominated for the Albert Medal
Albert Medal
Albert Medal may refer to:* Albert Medal , awarded for lifesaving.* Albert Medal , awarded by the Royal Society of Arts....
. Notice of his award appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on March 13, 1945.
The 155 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron is named in his honor.
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=roderick+borden+gray&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=iP5ujHcWpCw0SM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ww2awards.com/person/519&docid=aX1J0AmCT_1n0M&w=100&h=150&ei=15OSTvCNNNGctweol-yUDA&zoom=1