231371 L/Cpl. Jack William Gray British Army Green Howards from:York, Yorks My dad, Jack Grey, was a Lance Corporal in the Green Howards and, upon returning to his unit after exercises, his rifle was stolen on the train back to camp. He had done so well on the exercise, that he was promoted to sergeant and was presented to his commanding officer for his promotion. He then had to wait until all promotions were granted and then marched back in to the same commanding officer to be reprimanded for losing his rifle. He was immediately demoted back to lance corporal and had the distinction of being a sergeant for about 20 minutes.
He was captured in North Africa and was among those soldiers addressed by Erwin Rommel who apologised to the POW's for handing them over to the Italian army for transport by cattle truck to Italy and, subsequently, to Stalag IVB.
He survived the war but spent 9 months in a convalescent home. He died in 1983 at age 63 of a heart attack.
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