Ivor Thord-Gray

[Liquid Amber]

Gen. I. Thord-Gray was another remarkable man who took up the bow with little recorded on his archery activities.  He was a soldier of fortune who served in the Mexican Revolutionary Army during 1912/3.  He penned the book "Gringo Rebel" about his involvement in the Mexican Revolution.

The Miami News – February 16, 1928

“General Gray is Expected”

     "Gen. I. Thord-Gray, president of the National Archery Association of the Unite States, will possibly attend the first annual archery-golf tournament of the palms, to be held on the municipal golf course at Country Club Estates and Opa-Locka February 24, 25 and 26, according to a letter received by Howard Hill, archery professional and director of the tournament.
     "General Thord-Gray wrote that his plans were uncertain, but that he would make an effort to attend the tournament, which is to be held under the auspices of the sports department of greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is sanctioned by the National Archery Association."  [pg. 10]

He failed to make the tournament but did allow the NAA to sanction it, the first National Archery Golf Tournament.  Harry J. Perkins was crowned winner and Mrs. Howard Hill won the Ladies  Event.  Glenn Curtiss sponsored the affair and Howard Hill managed and directed the affair.  Curtiss placed 5th and Howard Hill was the low scorer in the Tournament but was not eligible for awards due to his Professional Status.

Any additional information on Gray would be appreciated.

I was not aware of Gray's involvement in the Mexican Revolution nor of "Gringo Rebel" until Ben Pearson Jr. provided information on him and recommended the book.  I have a copy coming and look forward to reading it.

[Larry m]

I would be very interested in your feedback on the book after it's arrival and review.
You come up with some great one's Cliff and I always enjoy the insightful info on your post's.  

[Tox Collector]

The story I enjoy about General Thord-Gray is recited from pp. 81 of Elmer's "Target Archery" and provides the following quote by Elmer:  "The greatest feat of indoor shooting of which I have any knowledge took place on January 24, 1927.  While presiding at a holiday banquet of the 9th Coast Artillery Regiment of New York, General Thord-Gray had been twitted on his interest in the bow.  With dauntless spirit he instantly dared the organization to set their twenty-four best revolver shots against him in a match within the armory at eighty yards.  They accepted the challenge but on the evening of the match they "crawled," as we used to say in college.  Instead of two dozen, which would have meant a lower average of merit, only the twelve best marksmen in the regiment appeared and even they insisted on shooting alone in silence within a gallery shut off by glass and at only seventy-five yeards.  With an incredible lack of sportsmanship they compelled the general to shoot at the full eighty yards in the midst of a surging crowd of more than a thousand spectators who violated every rule of ethics and etiquette by pushing him, calling to him and getting in his way.  Luckily he is decended from Viking stock and he went berserk.  On a twenty-six inch pistol target, pinned to a straw bass, he made seventy hits out of seventy-two arrows with a score of 508, which being doubled to equal the number of revolver shots, gave him 1016.  The revolver experts scored only 979."

Quite the event and quite the story!

I believe that Thord-Gray had been a member of the Greenwich (Connecticut) Archers at one point.

[Liquid Amber]

I've not yet finished "Gringo Rebel" by Gray but will recommend it to those interested in primitive Indian types and their weapons.  If you ever wondered how well trained and experienced primitive people with primitive weapons fared against the un-schooled with more efficient weapons....you likely will enjoy this book.  

I was amazed at how a simple blunted, wood shaft could still a body as quick as a modern, metal one.  And, it didn't take an 80 pound long bow to do the trick.  

The book is readily available through Amazon and other outlets.  As Tox noted above, Gray was a real man.