Percy Gray

Died

:

2 January 1939

Age

:

43

Rank

:

Police Constable

Force

:

Admiralty Civil Police

Cause

:

Road Traffic Collision (RTC)

Duty Status

:

Travelling From

Roll of Honour Citation

Fatally injured as a passenger in a road traffic collision while returning home from duty.

Having finished night duty at the Royal Naval Hospital, Constable Gray was being taken home by a colleague when they approached a crossroads which had the traffic lights deactivated at night time.

As they pulled out into the junction they collided with a taxi causing extensive damage to both vehicles and injuries to all involved. PC Gray and his colleague were thrown from their vehicle into the roadway where PC Gray died. Police attended and with the support of St. John Ambulance all were taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital.

The Coroner later observed the cost savings of not illuminating the traffic lights at night time was hardly worth the cost of human life and recommended they be activated.