Ivor Thord-Gray

Ivor Thord-Gray (April 17, 1878 - August 18, 1964) was a Swedish adventurer and soldier. Born in Stockholm on 17th April 1878 as "Thord Ivar Hallström". In 1893 he joined the Merchant Marine and sailed on three ships before going ashore in Cape Town, South Africa, December 1895.

He wrote a book about his experiences in the Mexican war, "Gringo Rebel: Mexico 1913-1914". [cite book |last=Thord-Gray |first=Ivor |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gringo Rebel: Mexico 1913-1914 (2nd ed.)|year=1960 |publisher=Miami Press |location= |id=ASIN: B0007FRTXY ]

Achievements

Africa

* Worked as a Prison Guard on Robben Island 1896
* In 1897 he enlisted in the Cape Mounted Riflemen and fought the Boer War 1899-1902
* Served in the South African Constabulary 1902-1903
* Transvaal Colony Civil Service 1903-1906
* Captain in the Lydenburg Militia 1904
* Joined Royston's Horse as a Lieutenant and fought the Zulu War 1906 being promoted Captain.
* Captain of Nairobi Mounted Police 1907

Asia

* Captain Philippine Constabulary ("US Foreign Legion") 1908-1909
* Planter in Malaya 1909-1911. Served a short time in the Chinese Revolution 1913

Mexico

* Joined Mexican Revolution as Captain and Commander of Pancho Villa's artillery 1913
* Promoted Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel 1914.
* Chief of Staff 1st Mexican Army 1914.

Britain

* Joined British Army 1914 as a Major and second in command of 15th Bn Northumberland FusiliersLondonGazette|issue=28986|supp=yes|startpage=9973|date=24 November 1914|accessdate=2007-10-31]
* Lieutenant-Colonel and Commanding officer of 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers 1915, 1/26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 1916LondonGazette|issue=29488|supp=yes|startpage=2090|date=22 February 1916|accessdate=2007-10-31]
* Awarded 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Allied Victory Medal
* Lieutenant-Colonel Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF-S) to Siberia 1918cite web|url=http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=thord$&s2=&s3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect2=THESOFF&Sect5=CEF6PEN&Sect6=HITOFF&d=CEF6&p=1&u=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02010602_e.html&r=1&f=G|title=Library and Archives Canada|accessdate=2007-07-23]

Russia

* Transferred to Russian "White" Army February 1919 as Colonel
* Commanding Officer of 1st Siberian Assault Division
* Major General November 1919 and High Representative of the Provisional Siberian Government to the Allied Expeditionary Corps in Vladivostok

United States

* Established a Bank in New York 1925 and became a citizen of the United States 1934
* In August 1935 he was appointed Major-General and Chief-of-Staff to Governor David Sholtz of Florida
* Died in Coral Gables, Florida, August 18, 1964.

References

Sources

* Swedish Royal Library: "Thord Ivar Hallströms handlingar" Some 1,000 letters and documents regarding Ivor Thord-Gray deposited in the National Archives
* "Svenskar i krig 1914-1945" (Swedes at War 1914-1945), by Lars Gyllenhaal and Lennart Westberg. ISBN 91-85057-08-8

External links

* [http://www.lidenbygden.com/tarzan/tarzan.htm Article in Swedish asserting his presence in the Boer war]
* [http://www.netdotcom.com/revmexpc/fortune.htm Article in English repeating many of the same claims]
* [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=29973 Ivor Thord-Gray at the Great War Forum]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctfairfi/pages/fairfieldfotos/fffotos_038.htm Rootsweb.com picture of his Florida house, with story]