Gunner Alexander Gray, 65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
1454467 GUNNER
A.T. GRAY
65TH (NORFOLK YEOMANRY) ANTI-TANK REGT. R.A.
1ST FEBRUARY 1940
THE PEACE OF GOD
WHICH PASSETH
ALL UNDERSTANDING
PEACEFULLY SLEEPING
Alexander T. Gray was born in Norwich sometime between April and June in 1914, the son of Francis Angus and Ann Mary Elizabeth Gray, nee Tinsley.
By 1939, it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out and, as a direct result of the German invasion of Czechoslovakia on 15th. March, the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit and formation forming a duplicate.
When the TA was mobilised on 1st. September, the Norfolk and Suffolk Yeomanry 'Duplicate and Original Regiments' were on annual training at Draycot Foliat, Chiseldon Camp in Wiltshire and the 'Norfolk Duplicate Batteries' and 'Lowestoft Contingent' returned to Swaffham in Norfolk. The following day, orders were issued to split the unit into 55th. (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk as part of 54th. Division, and 65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment at Swaffham as part of the duplicate 18th. Infantry Division then in process of formation. Under the command of Lt.-Col. W.N. Arnold, the new regiment was organised as follows:
65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment HQ at Swaffham
257 Battery at Norwich and Wymondham
258 Battery at Norwich
259 Battery at Swaffham
260 Battery at King's Lynn
The unit was usually abbreviated as 65 (NY) A/T Rgt. or more familiarly, especially within 7th. Armoured Division, as simply the Norfolk Yeomanry. At this date the standard British Army anti-tank gun was the 2 pounder, issued at 12 guns per battery.
The regiment left 18th. Division in November 1939 to reinforce 50th. (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which was preparing to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. After training around Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, the regiment embarked on the 3,791 ton passenger ferry Ulster Monarch of Belfast on 9th. February 1940, and by the end of the month was concentrated at Crèvecœur-le-Grand in Oise, Northern France.
The Army Roll of Honour 1939 to1945 records that Gunner 1454467 Alexander Gray, aged 25, died on the Home Front whilst serving with the Royal Artillery on the 1st. February 1940. The death was recorded in the Cheltenham District of Gloucestershire between January and March quarter of 1940. Although the cause of death is unknown it could have occurred during training at Twekesbury or in an accident whilst preparing to embark for France.
Gunner Gray is buried in Earlham cemetery in Norwich, Norfolk at Sec. 54. Grave 577.
Gunner Alexander Gray, 65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
1454467 GUNNER
A.T. GRAY
65TH (NORFOLK YEOMANRY) ANTI-TANK REGT. R.A.
1ST FEBRUARY 1940
THE PEACE OF GOD
WHICH PASSETH
ALL UNDERSTANDING
PEACEFULLY SLEEPING
Alexander T. Gray was born in Norwich sometime between April and June in 1914, the son of Francis Angus and Ann Mary Elizabeth Gray, nee Tinsley.
By 1939, it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out and, as a direct result of the German invasion of Czechoslovakia on 15th. March, the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit and formation forming a duplicate.
When the TA was mobilised on 1st. September, the Norfolk and Suffolk Yeomanry 'Duplicate and Original Regiments' were on annual training at Draycot Foliat, Chiseldon Camp in Wiltshire and the 'Norfolk Duplicate Batteries' and 'Lowestoft Contingent' returned to Swaffham in Norfolk. The following day, orders were issued to split the unit into 55th. (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk as part of 54th. Division, and 65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment at Swaffham as part of the duplicate 18th. Infantry Division then in process of formation. Under the command of Lt.-Col. W.N. Arnold, the new regiment was organised as follows:
65th. (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment HQ at Swaffham
257 Battery at Norwich and Wymondham
258 Battery at Norwich
259 Battery at Swaffham
260 Battery at King's Lynn
The unit was usually abbreviated as 65 (NY) A/T Rgt. or more familiarly, especially within 7th. Armoured Division, as simply the Norfolk Yeomanry. At this date the standard British Army anti-tank gun was the 2 pounder, issued at 12 guns per battery.
The regiment left 18th. Division in November 1939 to reinforce 50th. (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which was preparing to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. After training around Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, the regiment embarked on the 3,791 ton passenger ferry Ulster Monarch of Belfast on 9th. February 1940, and by the end of the month was concentrated at Crèvecœur-le-Grand in Oise, Northern France.
The Army Roll of Honour 1939 to1945 records that Gunner 1454467 Alexander Gray, aged 25, died on the Home Front whilst serving with the Royal Artillery on the 1st. February 1940. The death was recorded in the Cheltenham District of Gloucestershire between January and March quarter of 1940. Although the cause of death is unknown it could have occurred during training at Twekesbury or in an accident whilst preparing to embark for France.
Gunner Gray is buried in Earlham cemetery in Norwich, Norfolk at Sec. 54. Grave 577.