Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 125 continued ... In early December 2022 my wife and I spent a week in Florence Italy. While there, I took the time to visit the Florence War Cemetery. I stopped at all 49 of the Canadians graves and left memorial tributes of poppies, small Canadian flags and/or Canadian pennies. Three of the war dead were from Nova Scotia. Here are their stories: Lemuel William Gray was the son of William and Thirza Gray, and husband of Alice (Murray) Gray of Springhill. He was born in Westville N.S. in 1917. Prior to going to war Lemuel had worked as an electrician and as a mechanic. He enlisted in the RCAF on 5 November 1939 and was posted to 11 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron RCAF in June 1940 as an aeroengine mechanic. LAC (Leading Aircraftsman) Gray was promoted to Acting/Sergeant in June 1941 and was posted to Alberta for pilot training. In December 1942 he qualified as a pilot, was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and posted to Halifax where he would catch a ship for England. He arrived in England in January 1943 and was posted to the RAF. In January 1944 he was posted to 454 Squadron (Royal Australian Air Force) in Libya as part of the Desert Air Force. In July 1944 his squadron relocated to Pescara Italy. The 454 Squadron followed the advance of the Allies and relocated to Falconara on 18 August. On 23August, Lem was at the controls of Martin Baltimore bomber FW 602 on a bombing mission over Limestre Italy (north of Venice). FW 602 was hit by flak over the target and then dropped out of formation gradually losing height. Lem was working hard to get the crippled aircraft into friendly airspace. He was killed making a crash landing near Pisa. All of Lem’s crew survived and swore they owed their lives to his skill in bringing the crippled aircraft home. Flying Officer Lemuel Gray was buried with full military honours in the United States Military Cemetery in Follonica. His body was relocated to the Florence War Cemetery after the war. Nova Scotia war dead of the Florence War Cemetery Story by Gary Silliker
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