A good Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Captain R. A. Gray, Royal Artillery, late Imperial Yeomanry and Indian Army

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (23418 Tpr. R. A. Gray, Imp. Yeo.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. A. Gray, I.A.R.O.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. R. A. Gray); Volunteer Force Long Service, G.V.R. (Lt. R. A. Gray, 38/East Coast I.D.F.), together with related portrait miniature in an old (distressed) leather case, minor official correction to unit on the last, generally good very fine (7) £1200-1500

M.C. London Gazette 7 March 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was engaged in removing ammunition from a vacated gun position when the enemy opened fire on the position, and a gun-pit containing several hundred rounds of ammunition was set alight. He at once went to the pit, which became a sheet of flame, and with the help of another officer extinguished the fire. At one time he was overcome by smoke, but continued to work, entering the pit and carrying out the ammunition at great risk, both from the fire and the hostile shelling, which still continued. He showed the greatest courage, energy and devotion to duty, and was responsible for saving a large quantity of ammunition.’

Richard Allen Gray witnessed active service as a Trooper in the 76th Company, 22nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, so, too, in the 99th Company, with which unit he returned home in the S.S. Northiam Castle (Medal & 5 clasps). Subsequently commissioned on the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, his MIC notes that he was on the strength of the 31st D.C.O. Lancers on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 - and it was presumably in this capacity that he first went out to France in April 1915. Be that as it may, he was serving in the Royal Field Artillery at the time of winning his M.C. for the above cited deeds near St. Eloi, to which honour he added a “mention” later in the same year (London Gazette 23 December 1918, refers). And he was back in India at the time of submitting his claim for his campaign awards in June 1920, his address being care of the Bank of Madras; sold with brief research.