Douglas Gray
Lt. Col. Douglas Gray
Lt. Col. Douglas Gray
1909-2004
1909-2004
Charles Robert Douglas Gray, always known by his third Christian name, was born on 31 December 1909 in Peking, where his father – a colonel, and a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion – was Medical Officer to the British Ambassador to China.
Charles Robert Douglas Gray, always known by his third Christian name, was born on 31 December 1909 in Peking, where his father – a colonel, and a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion – was Medical Officer to the British Ambassador to China.
Both his parents hailed from Edinburgh, hence young Douglas was sent to Fettes College in Edinburgh, where he developed into an accomplished sportsman. He was in the 1st XV for rugby and the 1st XI for hockey (he was a Scottish schoolboy international in both sports). He was also good at athletics, winning the steeplechase and the 120 yards hurdles.
Both his parents hailed from Edinburgh, hence young Douglas was sent to Fettes College in Edinburgh, where he developed into an accomplished sportsman. He was in the 1st XV for rugby and the 1st XI for hockey (he was a Scottish schoolboy international in both sports). He was also good at athletics, winning the steeplechase and the 120 yards hurdles.
Destined to follow his father into the Army, Douglas attended the Royal Military College Sandhurst, where he became keen on hunting and began competing in point-to-points. He also added another string to his bow by acquiring a pilot’s licence
Destined to follow his father into the Army, Douglas attended the Royal Military College Sandhurst, where he became keen on hunting and began competing in point-to-points. He also added another string to his bow by acquiring a pilot’s licence
After being commissioned into the Indian Army in 1930, he was attached to the Seaforth Highlanders and saw active service on the North West Frontier, notably in the Khajuri Plain campaign. In 1932 he was posted to Skinner’s Horse (1st Duke of York’s Cavalry), also known as the 1st Bengal Lancers. Thus began an affinity with India in general and with horses in particular.
After being commissioned into the Indian Army in 1930, he was attached to the Seaforth Highlanders and saw active service on the North West Frontier, notably in the Khajuri Plain campaign. In 1932 he was posted to Skinner’s Horse (1st Duke of York’s Cavalry), also known as the 1st Bengal Lancers. Thus began an affinity with India in general and with horses in particular.
In 1936 he was appointed ADC to the Governor of Burma, returning to England after two years on an extended period of leave. Looking for a suitable horse to ride in the 1938 Grand National, he bought ten-year-old Emancipator, who had been ridden in the previous three Nationals by Peter Cazalet but failed to complete, falling twice and being pulled up once.
In 1936 he was appointed ADC to the Governor of Burma, returning to England after two years on an extended period of leave. Looking for a suitable horse to ride in the 1938 Grand National, he bought ten-year-old Emancipator, who had been ridden in the previous three Nationals by Peter Cazalet but failed to complete, falling twice and being pulled up once.
Douglas sent Emancipator to be trained by Peter Thrale at West Horsley in Surrey. They made their debut when finishing unplaced in a Kempton Park long-distance hurdle race at the end of January 1938.
Douglas sent Emancipator to be trained by Peter Thrale at West Horsley in Surrey. They made their debut when finishing unplaced in a Kempton Park long-distance hurdle race at the end of January 1938.
Two weeks later, on 12 February, Douglas finished third on Emancipator in an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Lingfield Park and then won Guest Hall Hurdle on another of Thrale’s horses, Bob Each Way, later on the card.
Two weeks later, on 12 February, Douglas finished third on Emancipator in an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Lingfield Park and then won Guest Hall Hurdle on another of Thrale’s horses, Bob Each Way, later on the card.
On their next start, Douglas and Emancipator came fourth in Lingfield’s Shaun Spadah Chase, following that with a third-place finish in the Grand Military Gold Cup. They then took their place in the field for the 1938 Grand National, albeit as 100-1 outsiders, but their race ended in a fall.
On their next start, Douglas and Emancipator came fourth in Lingfield’s Shaun Spadah Chase, following that with a third-place finish in the Grand Military Gold Cup. They then took their place in the field for the 1938 Grand National, albeit as 100-1 outsiders, but their race ended in a fall.
There is some speculation about precisely where their race ended, The Sporting Chronicle Racing-up-to-Date form book states that it was as early as the first fence, whereas Alan Yuill Walker’s book ‘The Scots and the Turf’ gives it as being brought down at the fence before Becher’s on the first circuit, while an obituary puts the fall as being at Becher’s on the second circuit.
There is some speculation about precisely where their race ended, The Sporting Chronicle Racing-up-to-Date form book states that it was as early as the first fence, whereas Alan Yuill Walker’s book ‘The Scots and the Turf’ gives it as being brought down at the fence before Becher’s on the first circuit, while an obituary puts the fall as being at Becher’s on the second circuit.
He went back to India to serve with his regiment in the Waziristan campaign, after which he was promoted captain and appointed quartermaster for the mechanisation of his regiment.
He went back to India to serve with his regiment in the Waziristan campaign, after which he was promoted captain and appointed quartermaster for the mechanisation of his regiment.
When war was declared, Skinner’s Horse was dispatched to Sudan to confront the Italians in Eritrea and Abyssinia. Douglas was promoted again, to squadron commander, and served in the East African campaign, being wounded at the Battle of Keren in 1941.
When war was declared, Skinner’s Horse was dispatched to Sudan to confront the Italians in Eritrea and Abyssinia. Douglas was promoted again, to squadron commander, and served in the East African campaign, being wounded at the Battle of Keren in 1941.
In 1944 he served with Skinner's Horse in Italy as second-in-command, and at the end of the war in Europe he was transferred to the Army Remount Service in India, then went to the Burma front with 7th Indian Division.
In 1944 he served with Skinner's Horse in Italy as second-in-command, and at the end of the war in Europe he was transferred to the Army Remount Service in India, then went to the Burma front with 7th Indian Division.
At the end of the war with Japan in August 1945, he was sent to Thailand to organise the disposal of all captured Japanese army animals. On completion of this task, he returned to New Delhi as GSO1 Remount Directorate.
At the end of the war with Japan in August 1945, he was sent to Thailand to organise the disposal of all captured Japanese army animals. On completion of this task, he returned to New Delhi as GSO1 Remount Directorate.
In 1946 Douglas was posted to command the Indian Army Remount Breeding Area in the Punjab (now Pakistan), putting him in charge of 75 stallions and 3,500 broodmares, supplying horses and mules for the Indian Army and civilian market.
In 1946 Douglas was posted to command the Indian Army Remount Breeding Area in the Punjab (now Pakistan), putting him in charge of 75 stallions and 3,500 broodmares, supplying horses and mules for the Indian Army and civilian market.
He was still there in 1947 after the partition of India and Pakistan at the end of British rule. Shortly afterwards, aged 37, he returned to Britain and became manager of the Hadrian Stud at Newmarket, transforming it into one of the top private studs (it now forms part of Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall complex). He also joined the Territorial Army as a reserve officer in the 10th Royal Hussars.
He was still there in 1947 after the partition of India and Pakistan at the end of British rule. Shortly afterwards, aged 37, he returned to Britain and became manager of the Hadrian Stud at Newmarket, transforming it into one of the top private studs (it now forms part of Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall complex). He also joined the Territorial Army as a reserve officer in the 10th Royal Hussars.
He resumed riding in point-to-points and made another attempt over the Aintree fences on Adam’s Caught in the 1949 Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, then run over the full Grand National trip. They were all of 20 lengths clear when falling at the fourth last fence.
He resumed riding in point-to-points and made another attempt over the Aintree fences on Adam’s Caught in the 1949 Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, then run over the full Grand National trip. They were all of 20 lengths clear when falling at the fourth last fence.
He rode Adam’s Caught in an Easter Monday hunters’ chase at Huntingdon in 1950 but thereafter pretty much confined himself to riding in point-to-points, which he continued to do until breaking his neck in a fall at the Moulton fixture in 1963.
He rode Adam’s Caught in an Easter Monday hunters’ chase at Huntingdon in 1950 but thereafter pretty much confined himself to riding in point-to-points, which he continued to do until breaking his neck in a fall at the Moulton fixture in 1963.
After retiring from the Army, in 1970 Douglas succeed Peter Burrell as Director of the National Stud, for which he acquired Mill Reef and became a founder member of the National Museum of Horseracing.
After retiring from the Army, in 1970 Douglas succeed Peter Burrell as Director of the National Stud, for which he acquired Mill Reef and became a founder member of the National Museum of Horseracing.
While continuing to run the Hadrian Stud, he bought the nearby Stetchworth Park Stud, and ran it (with his wife Joan) as an independent operation from 1960 to 1982. He sold it to owner-breeder Bill Gredley in order to become the first Director of the British Racing School for stable staff at Newmarket. The school was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1984.
While continuing to run the Hadrian Stud, he bought the nearby Stetchworth Park Stud, and ran it (with his wife Joan) as an independent operation from 1960 to 1982. He sold it to owner-breeder Bill Gredley in order to become the first Director of the British Racing School for stable staff at Newmarket. The school was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1984.
In addition to his other roles, Douglas was also a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the Bloodstock Industries’ Committee, the Animal Health Trust and the National Museum of Horseracing. He was president of the Newmarket British Legion from 1955 to 1984; Poppy Appeal Organiser from 1970 to 1983 (nearly doubling the receipts); and president of the Suffolk branch of the British Legion from 1981 to 1984. He also worked tirelessly for the welfare of the pensioners of the old Indian Army.
In addition to his other roles, Douglas was also a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the Bloodstock Industries’ Committee, the Animal Health Trust and the National Museum of Horseracing. He was president of the Newmarket British Legion from 1955 to 1984; Poppy Appeal Organiser from 1970 to 1983 (nearly doubling the receipts); and president of the Suffolk branch of the British Legion from 1981 to 1984. He also worked tirelessly for the welfare of the pensioners of the old Indian Army.
In 1994, he was rewarded for his services to the bloodstock industry with the prestigious Devonshire Award. In 1998 he was awarded an OBE.
In 1994, he was rewarded for his services to the bloodstock industry with the prestigious Devonshire Award. In 1998 he was awarded an OBE.
A triple heart by-pass operation when he was 84, following hip replacements, did not prevent Douglas from visiting India soon afterwards, or driving up to Edinburgh from Hampshire and back to attend an old boys’ dinner at Fettes.
A triple heart by-pass operation when he was 84, following hip replacements, did not prevent Douglas from visiting India soon afterwards, or driving up to Edinburgh from Hampshire and back to attend an old boys’ dinner at Fettes.
His wife, Joan, whom he had married in 1940, died in 1997, and in 2001, aged 91, he married Helene Wilson, then 82, in the chapel at Sandhurst.
His wife, Joan, whom he had married in 1940, died in 1997, and in 2001, aged 91, he married Helene Wilson, then 82, in the chapel at Sandhurst.
Douglas Gray died on 14 October 2004, aged 94. His ashes were scattered within the grounds of St. James Church, Delhi by his grandson in the presence of serving and retired officers of Skinner’s Horse.
Douglas Gray died on 14 October 2004, aged 94. His ashes were scattered within the grounds of St. James Church, Delhi by his grandson in the presence of serving and retired officers of Skinner’s Horse.
In 2006, a plaque was erected at St. James Church, Delhi by his grandson, Piers Allison and Helene Wilson, together with the officers of Skinner’s Horse. The plaque reads:
In 2006, a plaque was erected at St. James Church, Delhi by his grandson, Piers Allison and Helene Wilson, together with the officers of Skinner’s Horse. The plaque reads:
In memory of Lt. Col. C.R.D. Gray OBE 1909-2004. Skinner’s Horse 1932-1947. ‘Chacha Gray’ worked tirelessly to ensure a lasting bond between the Regiment and the retired British Officers and their families.
In memory of Lt. Col. C.R.D. Gray OBE 1909-2004. Skinner’s Horse 1932-1947. ‘Chacha Gray’ worked tirelessly to ensure a lasting bond between the Regiment and the retired British Officers and their families.