He served as an artillery and cavalry officer in the British Army in Africa and India, rising eventually to the rank of lieutenant general. In the Spanish‐American War he went to the Philippines as an unofficial attaché and saw service with the American forces on the islands.

When the Mexican revolutions broke out, Mr. ThordGray obtained leave from the British Army and joined the constitutionalist forces in Sonora. As a Mexican colonel in command of the cavalry of Gen. Lucio Blanco's expedition on the west coast, he aided in the taking of Guadalajara, one of the hardest‐fought battles of the revolution.

In 1914 and 1915 he commanded the Northumberland Fusiliers (the “Fighting Fifth”) in France. In 1916 he came to the United States on a mission for the Allies. Two years later Mr. Thord‐Gray joined the White Russian army and served with the rank of major general. He fought in Russia and Siberia and was wounded, captured and finally repatriated by the Army.

A champion archer, Mr. Thord‐Gray once participated in a highly publicized contest which proved that the bow and arrow can be just as accurate as an army weapon.

The competition started late one winter evening in 1917 in a Manhattan restaurant. A group of officers, including the general, argued about the mèrits of archery and revolver marksmanship. Mr. Thord‐Gray, annoyed at some young men who mocked the usefulness of the bow and arrow, arose and pounced his fist on the table.