A W Gregory
Gold medalist
Augustus Francis Woodward Gregory is not a name that springs to mind when the early days of Australian pioneer motorcyclists are discussed. However Mr Gregory played no small part in the fortunes of the AJS company, and competed with distinction while abroad. A relative, Paul McKinley, from Wisemans Ferry NSW, enlightens us on what is known of the man.
“Uncle Greg, as we called him, was a soft spoken gentleman with dark sunken eyes, as I recall. He was born on 5th January, 1889 in Brisbane, Queensland, son to Francis Westbrook Gregory (born 1869) and Jessie Isabel Cole (born 1875). Uncle Greg received his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate on 25th October, 1916, at the NSW Aviation School, Richmond, NSW. The certificate was taken on a Curtiss Biplane.”
Gregory’s flying schools took him to Britain during the First World War, where he joined No.52 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps Reconnaissance squadron based at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome. The squadron moved to France in late 1916, being the first squadron equipped with the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8. These aircraft proved notoriously difficult to fly, several pilots “spinning off in a stall while attempting to land”, resulting in the squadron returning to the earlier B.E.2e. Gregory was wounded in action while flying over France on 17th May, 1918, but was subsequently promoted to captain and on 21st September was awarded the Croix De Guerre (Cross of War) – a decoration commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France. After his discharge, Gregory attended Leeds University, but subsequently joined the famous Wolverhampton firm of A.J.S. (1914) Ltd. “Uncle Greg was employed as a foreman-tester from 1924,” says Paul. “Mrs Gregory had a couple of copper coin-like medals that Uncle Greg received from the International Six Days Trial in 1924.” He actually left England on 23rd January 1925, sailing from Liverpool to New York on the SS Alaunia, but returned later in the year for the 1925 I.S.D.T. which was held at Southampton. According to the respected book, AJS of Wolverhampton, in the International Six Days Trial held from 17th to 22nd August, 1925 over a distance of 1,150 miles, “A.J.S. machines swept the board; the 3.49 hp solos of J. Simpson, G.Rowley and S.M. Williams gaining gold medals as well as winning the 350cc Team Prize and the A.C.U. medal. Three gold medals were also awarded to riders of 4.98 hp A.J.S. machines; one solo ridden by A.G. Stratford and two sidecar machines ridden by Frank Giles and A.W. Gregory.” Records held by the F.I.M. also state that an Australian team was placed third in the Silver Vase competition. Gregory then sailed for Australia, arriving home on 3rd February, 1926. From the scant details that exist, it appears Mr Gregory was an active and respected member of the A.J.S. firm in Wolverhampton, as the accompanying photographs show. His performance in the 1925 I.S.D.T. would appear to make him (along with Stuart Williams) the first Australian Gold Medal winners in the competition that survives to this day as the International Six Day Enduro.