Lt. Robert Hampton Gray, V.C., D.S.C., R.C.N.V.R. - Nelson, BC
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 49° 29.587 W 117° 17.633
11U E 478717 N 5482317
This marble and granite memorial to Lieutenant Hampton Gray stands in front of the Government of Canada building on Vernon Street in downtown Nelson, BC.
Waymark Code: WMK0MH
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 01/25/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member silverquill
Views: 2

Born in Trail, BC in 1917 and raised in Nelson, Lt. Gray unfortunately became one of the last Canadians to die in World War II. This memorial to Lt. Gray is one of three that we are aware of in the city of Nelson. The others are on the side of the Legion Building on Stanley Street and by the pool in Gyro Park. Lt. Gray was killed the day the second atomic bomb fell, this one on on Nagasaki.

The government building in front of which this memorial stands is named the Gray Building, also in his honour.

Lieutenant Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray


In the closing days of World War II, during a battle off the Japanese Island of Honshu, Lieutenant Hampton Gray became one of Canada's greatest war heroes.

Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray was born November 2, 1917 in Trail, BC and later moved with his family to Nelson. In the summer of 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve where he received flight training. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1943.

On August 9, 1945 Lt. Gray led an aerial attack against Japanese warships in Onagawa Bay. Flying his Corsair through intense fire, he was hit by anti-aircraft rounds yet maintained control of his damaged aircraft and succeeded in sinking the destroyer Amakusa before his plane went down in flames.

The event, which preceded by hours the Japanese surrender, concluded a naval career of dedication and courage. Lt. Hampton Gray was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Victoria Cross for his leadership and valour.
Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link]

List if there are any visiting hours:
Mounted on the Vernon Street sidewalk, available 24/7/365.


Entrance fees (if it applies): 0

Type of memorial: Monument

Visit Instructions:

*(1.)* Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit.
*(2.)* If you have additional information about the memorial which is not listed in the waymark description, please notify the waymark owner to have it added, and please post the information in your visit log.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Specific Veteran Memorials
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log User Rating  
wildernessmama visited Lt. Robert Hampton Gray, V.C., D.S.C., R.C.N.V.R. - Nelson, BC 07/08/2017 wildernessmama visited it