Hammy Gray memorial in Japan damaged

[kootenayguy]

There was a report in the Nelson (B.C.) Star newspaper last week that the monument honouring Lieutenant R. Hampton Gray, VC, DSO in Onogawa Bay was damaged but not completely destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. It is apparently the only memorial to an Allied serviceman established by the Japanese. The local residents were greatly impressed by his heroism in sinking a destroyer from his Corsair plane. In recent years Onagawa and Gray's hometown of Nelson have become "sister" cities with groups of students from each city visiting the other as part of a spirit of peace and goodwill.

Onagawa was very close to the earthquake epicentre and very hard hit in the disaster.

[kootenayguy]

The link to the Nelson Star newspaper report on the damage to the Lieut. R.H. Gray memorial is below. Hammy Gray was the last Canadian to win the VC. As I recall, it was either one or two days after the Hiroshima a-bomb, and before the Nagasaki bomb.


www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/news/121266113.html

[kootenayguy]

Good news! Repairs have been made to the Hammy Gray Memorial at Onagawa, Japan, which was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The cooperation between Japanese and Canadians in honouring VC recipient Hammy Gray is quite remarkable.

Below is a story in the Nelson (British Columbia, Canada) Star newspaper. Nelson was Hammy Gray's home town.

www.nelsonstar.com/news/162962846.html