"Advice that Lieutenant-Colonel, temporary Brigadier John Russell Gray was killed in action on July 5 has been received by his wife, Mrs. J. R. Gray, of Saltburn Road. Milford. Brigadier Gray was well known in Auckland as a barrister and solicitor, and was a partner of the legal firm of Keegan and Gray, having formerly been connected with the firm of Russell, McVeagh, Macky and Bariowclough. He was educated at King's College and Auckland University.

Brigadier Gray took a considerable interest in the Territorial forces and in June. 1939, succeeded to the command of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment. He was subsequently appointed to the command of the 18th (Auckland) Battalion, the first Auckland Infantry Battalion formed for overseas service after the outbreak of war.

He left New Zealand early in 1940 with the First Echelon, and high praise is given him for the manner in which he led his men in Greece and Crete. His letters to New Zealand describing the Crete battle are regarded as being among the best examinations made of the campaign and are used for instructional purposes in the Northern Military District. From Crete, Brigadier Gray was sent to Malta to advise the defence authorities there on anti-paratroop methods. Upon returning to Egypt he participated in the last Libyan campaign and was mentioned in the dispatches of Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg early this year."

[Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 6]