Lieutenant, Royal Marines
Born: March 2nd 1921
Died: September 17th 1943
Age at Death: 22
Killed in action, Italy, September 17th 1943
1st 15 1937-1938
Victor Ludorum (Intermediate) 1937
Peter Wray was born in Brentford, Middlesex, on 2 March 1921 to Lesley Wray and his wife Marjorie (née Barnett). At the College he was in the 1st XV and declared Victor Ludorum, a title given to the best athlete on Sports Day.
When war began he was working at Fairmile Engineering, an innovative boat design company specialising in motor, gun and torpedo boats for the Admiralty. Wray would doubtless have been in a reserved occupation – not compelled to enlist because his civilian work was important to the war effort – but in 1941 he signed up for the Royal Marines. The following year he joined 41st Royal Marine Commando. In 1943 his unit took part in the assault on Sicily. Wray distinguished himself in this operation and was mentioned in despatches.
On 9 September 1943 the Allies invaded mainland Italy, landing at Salerno. Initially, the commandos were unopposed, but were then hit by a strong German counter-attack. On 17 September, the day before the Germans retreated, leaving Salerno to the Allies, Wray was killed during, or died from his wounds after, action on the hills by the village of Piegolelle. He is buried in the Salerno War Cemetery.