Captain Charles Gray, 1840-8/3/1918.

Personalia

The death is announced of Mr Charles Gray, of Waiohika, a resident of that district for the past 41 years. The deceased, who had attained the age of 77 years, had been in failing health for some years past, but his demise, which took place at Dunedin on Saturday, came as a painful shock to his many friends. Born in Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, England, in 1840. He was educated at Brighton College. In his early years he displayed a roving disposition, spending eleven years at sea, in the course of which he had many exciting experiences whilst engaged in blockade-running during the American civil war. He traded to various parts of the world, including East Africa, but he was of retiring disposition, and spoke little of his own personal career. Before retiring from the sea, which he did in 1870, he rose to the rank of captain. Engaging with a brother in the pastoral industry in Queensland, the late Mr Gray spent a number of years there, and eventually crossed over to New Zealand and settled down in . Poverty Bay. During his long residence in the district Mr Gray displayed keen interest in public affairs, and held many local official positions. Mr Gray sustained the loss of his first wife in 1880, shortly after their arrival in the district. He subsequently married a daughter of the late Bishop W. L. Williams, of Waiapu. He leaves his wife and family (comprising three daughters and five sons). The daughters include Mrs Blunt (India), Mrs Ormerod (Ruakituri), and Miss Gray. The eldest son Mr L. Gray, is on the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric staff, whilst the second son, Mr D. Camplin Gray, is managing the property at Waiohika, with a younger brother. The third son, Sydney, holds a commission with the Indian Army, and the youngest, Douglas, is a flight-lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps.  -NZ Times, 14/3/1918.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.

The mention of Douglas being in the Royal Flying Corps is intriguing, and a little further research brought up his story.

Personal Notes

Advice has been received by Mr and Mrs Chas. Gray, of Waiohika, that their son Douglas has been appointed a sub-lieutenant of the Royal Navy Aeroplane Service, and is in training near London. Mr Gray left Gisborne last October to join the flying service.  -Gisborne Times, 2/5/1916.

FLIGHT LIEUT GRAY.

Reassuring advice has been received by Mr Charles Gray as to the condition of his son, Flight Lieut. Douglas Wankley Gray, who sustained injuries in an aeroplane accident a few days ago. A report from Dr. Alfred Williams, of Epsom, states: "Comfortable in Lincoln hospital. Simple fractures both legs above ankles; small cuts on face. Writes very cheerfully. Progressing well." The following paragraph from an English newspaper received by the last mail refers to Lieut Gray: "Some wonderful flying by a youthful naval airman over Harrow hill which has delighted and thrilled hundreds of people on several occasions, shows more than anything else what our intrepid experts in the air can do, and the immense possibilities of the latest machines. The officer, who lives in Harrow, I believe, is one of England's greatest airmen, and his many friends, not only in Harrow, but further away will wish him the best of luck and success in his special work."   -Poverty Bay Herald, 13/4/1917.

Douglas returned to New Zealand and joined the Canterbury Aviation Company.

GOING UP.

CAPTAIN DOUGLAS GRAY, of the Canterbury Aviation Company, who has made several cross-country flights recently, has had a great deal of experience in flying various types of machines. Night flying formed a special part of his duty during the war, and he was engaged in flying new machines across the Channel to France. Captain Gray belongs to Gisborne, and is an Old Boy of Wanganui College.  -Star, 17/9/1920.

90 MILES AN HOUR.

CHRISTCHURCH TO WELLINGTON BY AIR.

DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT.

The story of the recent flight from Christchurch to Wellington says that the Canterbury Aviation Company’s 110 h.p. Le Rhone Avro was the machine, and she was on her maiden trip, having been recently assembled at the company’s aerodrome at Sockburn. She left Christchurch at 7.28 a.m., in beautiful weather, without a breath of wind. There were a few clouds of very high altitude. They passed over Kaiapoi at 7.32 a.m., and Rangiora at 7.41 a.m., at the ordinary cross-country touring altitude of 2200 ft. They had a view of Pegasus Bay and the Southern Alps from here but it was somewhat discounted by the strong reflection of. the sun from the sea. The machine passed over Amberley at 7.45 a.m., and Waipara at 7.50.

The sun became very strong, facing the pilot’s eyes, and Captain Gray then went to sea, and then hugged the coast at an altitude of 3000 ft. They were now some seventy miles from Christchurch, and the visibility became so good that the aviators could distinctly see the houses on the Port hills at Christchurch and the pier at New Brighton. They passed Motanau at 8.5 a.m. and Parnassus shortly after. Approaching the Waiau river, the altimeter showed 5400 feet, and they passed over the Conway river-bed at 8.26 a.m. Nearing the seaward Kaikouras, the aviators experienced the icy cold blast from the snow-capped peaks, and for a short period the flying conditions wore rather “bumpy.” Kaikoura came into view rather suddenly, and no difficulty was experienced in picking up the ploughed circle, indicating one of the Canterbury Aviation Company’s landing grounds. 

THE FIRST LANDING. The first landing was made at Mr Frank Bullen's station “The Elms,” at 8.55 a.m. Mr Bullen and his family and a few settlers came across and met them in motors, and in a few minutes had the billy boiling. The aviators were given hot tea and refreshments, and much appreciated the attention, after their cold trip. They left again at 9.48 a.m., and reached a height of 4000 feet, continuing to hug the coast. About twelve miles north of Kaikoura, well out to sea, they saw what appeared to be a large steamer making north. 

CALL AT BLENHEIM. To the left, there was a perfect unobstructed view of the whole formation of the South Island. The visibility was exceptionally good. They passed over Ward, Seddon, and the other intermediate small towns, and then circled over Blenheim, where they picked out the new hangar erected by the Marlborough citiezns for the Canterbury Aviation Co., and landed without mishap at 10.45 a.m. A number of people turned out to greet them. Leaving Blenheim at 11.30 a.m., they flew in the direction of Tory Channel, until they reached an altitude of 7000 feet. It was necessary to fly at this great height so that, in case of a breakdown crossing the straits, they could glide to Wellington. Leaving the mainland, the aviators got a wonderful view of the Sounds, whose green waters showed in striking contrast to the blue waters of the ocean. The actual crossing occupied 26 minutes. Cape Terawhiti was passed a couple of minutes before twelve. One of the aviators described the lighthouse at Tom’s Rock as like a wooden match in a pond. For the first time a breeze was experienced crossing to Wellington, but beyond making the going a little “bumpy,” it had not any effect on their progress. 

MACHINE BEHAVES WELL. Passing over the land, Captain Gray slowed his engine, and allowed the machine to glide. Over Newtown, he executed a series of evolutions, then straightened out, and proceeded across Somes Island to the Hutt Park, where they were greeted by the caretaker and his wife. The flying distances were as follows: Christchurch to Kaikoura, 150 miles; Kaikoura to Blenheim, 97 miles; Blenheim to Wellington, 40 miles; total, 287 miles. Thanks to the excellent “tuning” the machine received from the mechanic, she flew on her very best behaviour.  -Gisborne Times, 20/9/1920.

Douglas Gray.  Photo from the Online Cenotaph.

Gray's services with the CAC included charter flights, joy-riding, flight instruction and, as mentioned below in a story of the Waimakariri River in flood in 1920, reconaissance.

AN AERIAL VIEW.

A fine view of the flooded river was obtained this morning from the cockpit of an Avro aeroplane, piloted by Captain Douglas Gray. Leaving the aerodrome at about 9.30 a.m., with Mrs G. E. Rhodes and Miss Shona Rhodes as passengers, the machine was out for about thirty-five minutes, flying over Belfast and the bridges towards Kaiapoi. Pilot and passengers reported a very wonderful sight. The Waimakariri river, running very strongly, extended from bank, to bank, and had gone over the bank to the north-west of Belfast, and also on the northern side of the river opposite Belfast, flooding many paddocks. The stream had flooded islands in the riverbed, and only the tree tops could be seen in several places.  -Star, 26/11/1920.

An aeroplane owned by the Canterbury Aviation Company, with Captain Douglas Gray as pilot, flew over Dunedin at mid-day on Friday on its way to Mr Walter Blackie's farm at the Taieri. This machine was somewhat unfortunate. The pilot was not expected until Saturday morning, and a number of cattle which were grazing in the paddock selected for the landing had not been removed. As the machine descended the cattle became very excited, and one beast got m a position where neither Captain Gray nor his companion could see it, with a result that one of the wings of the 'plane came into contact with it. The under-carriage was damaged somewhat, and passenger flights could not be carried out. Captain Gray and his mechanic (Mr J. E. Moore) returned to Christchurch by rail for another machine. Flying in another machine, Captain Gray and Mr Moore left Christchurch at 7.30 yesterday morning with Mrs J. E. Moore as passenger. It arrived in Ashburton at 8 a.m. It was seen flying at a low altitude over the town, and then proceeded direct to Oamaru, where a supply of petrol was taken in. The journey was then continued to Dunedin.  -Ashburton Guardian, 10/1/1921.

The engagement is announced of Miss Emma Hall, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Wilfred Hall, of Glenroy, Canterbury, to Captain Douglas Gray, youngest son of Mrs and the late Mr Chas. Gray, Waiohika, Gisborne.   -Gisborne Times, 18/6/1921.

After Emma and Douglas married in February, 1923, the name "Douglas Graham" is no longer associated with aviation.  Perhaps it was a promise made by husband to wife, as flying was not a safe way to make a living in those days.  They farmed at Pongaroa in the Northern Wairarapa.  Their eldest son, Charles Roderick, joined the Air Force in 1943 and was killed in a mid-air collision between his and another Harvard trainer plane on a training flight practising air-to-air combat.  Douglas died of a heart attack in 1969.

From "the Harvard pile," in "Wings over New Zealand:" 

https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/17601/harvard-pile?q=gray

Sat 4 Aug 1945 NEW ZEALAND Air-air practice attacks 2 Operational Training Unit, RNZAF (Ohakea) Harvard IIA NZ1035 - on a diving pass at 0930 the port wing struck the tail of the target aircraft (NZ1048). The latter’s tail disintegrated, the aircraft spiralling into the ground on Mr Dalrymple’s farm at Parewanui, SW of Ohakea, where it burst into flames. With part of its port wing sheered off, NZ1035 entered a shallow spiral, recovered momentarily, then flicked over and crashed about 1000 yards away on the same property. The pilot is buried at Christchurch. Pilot: NZ4313159 Sgt Charles Roderick GRAY, RNZAF - Age 20. 138hrs solo (85 on Harvard) Gray’s father, Douglas Wanklyn Gray, was a First World War pilot who served in the RNAS and RAF, and, for a short time afterwards, the Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company