THE church of St Leonard’s Lexden, contains many interesting connections to Colchester's past.

Its stained glass windows are very special, in particular one window located to the left of the Chancel, in the Lady Chapel.

The window depicts a knight kneeling on the ground before Christ, clad in battle armour, chain mail and a green cloak.

His helmet is by his side, a sword is in his hand with the blade downwards towards the ground.

Here the soldier is being presented with the “Crown of Life” against a backdrop of colours of a sunset over a hillside.

The window was commissioned in 1920 by the parents of Roderick Gray parents, the knight’s face clearly modelled on a family photo.

He is immortalised in stained glass, a memorial to one of the tens of thousands of young men who died during the First World War.

Roderick Hubert Gray was more than just a brave soldier –he was a hero and his actions earned him the Military Cross.

He was born in Hong Kong in 1897, the eldest son of Norah and Roderick McKenzie Gray, of Cherrywood, Lexden.

After leaving school in 1915, he went to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, London, and was commissioned to the Royal Field Artillery in May 1916.

His military achievements, were numerous, although much is now lost to history.

It was recorded, however, that in August 1916, he joined the 119th Battery on the Somme and on April 9 1917, took part in the capture of Vimy Ridge during the battle for Arras.

In September of that year, he was posted to No1 Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and was promoted to Lieutenant early in November.

On November 30, at the Battle of Cambrai, while acting as liaison officer with the Infantry, Roderick was wounded.

He was in a forward trench while on lookout duties near the Bourlon Wood and shot in a surprise attack.

He died from his wounds at a casualty clearing station on December 2 1917, aged 20.

For his conduct during this attack, he was posthumously awarded the Military Cross in January 1918.

The words of his fellow officers sum up the personal qualities Roderick possessed –fearless in his duties, happy and cheerful, even in the worst of conditions andaman still willing to give more and do more.

Roderick Hubert GrayMC is buried at Achiet-Le-Grand communal cemetery in the Pas de Calais, in plot IK16.

He can rest in peace, knowing the town of Colchester, which he knew and loved, remembers him.

PRAISE FROM HIS COLONEL “YOUR son had not been very long with us, but I can assure you in that short time he had endeared himself to everyone of us.

“We have lost a good friend, and the country has lost a good and very gallant officer.

“At the time he was hit, he was doing lookout duty in some advanced trenches, which were suddenly attacked by the enemy.”

 

PRAISE FROM HIS MAJOR

“HE came to me with the reputation of being ‘an absolute tiger’, aname givento him, Ibelieve, by his previous general, and Iwas also told thathewas twice recommended forgallantry.

“Thatwas hearsay, butIcan tell youduring the past, strenuous fortnight he has been the life and soul of our circle.

“Cheerful and merry every minute of the dayand night under the most miserable conditions he was always busy and volunteering for every work to be done.

“He seemed impervious to fatigue, and everything he did was well done.”