Indra Lal Roy - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 12 November 2022
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	{{short description\|Indian World War I flying ace}}		{{short description\|Indian World War I flying ace}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November ~~2022~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2018}}
	<!-- This article is a part of [[~~Bharatpedia~~:WikiProject Biography/Military]] -->		<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Biography/Military]] -->
	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
	\| name = Indra Lal Roy		\| name = Indra Lal Roy
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	}}		}}

	'''Indra Lal Roy''' ({{Lang-bn\|ইন্দ্রলাল রায়}}), {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|DFC}} (2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) was the sole Indian World War I [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indians-who-lorded-over-European-skies-in-WWI/articleshow/44717029.cms \|title=Indians who lorded over European skies in WWI \|first=Manimugdha S. \|last=Sharma \|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] \|date=8 October 2014 \|access-date=8 October ~~2022~~}}</ref><ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite web \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indra-lal-roy/1/453110.html \|title=Indra Lal Roy 97th death anniversary: Some unknown facts you must know about the flying ace \|work=[[India Today]] \|date=22 July 2015 \|access-date=8 October ~~2022~~}}</ref> While serving in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and its successor, the [[Royal Air Force]], he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time,<ref>{{cite book \|first1=Christopher F. \|last1=Shores \|first2=Norman \|last2=Franks \|author-link2=Norman Franks \|first3=Russell F. \|last3=Guest \|title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 \|location=London, UK \|publisher=Grub Street \|year=1990 \|isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 \|page=328}}</ref> making him the first Indian [[flying ace]].<ref name=Wire>{{cite web \|url=https://thewire.in/history/indra-lal-roy-ace-flanders-india-failed-celebrate \|title=Remembering Indra Lal Roy, India's 'Ace' Over Flanders \|author=K. S. Nair \|date=22 July 2017 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]]}}</ref>		'''Indra Lal Roy''' ({{Lang-bn\|ইন্দ্রলাল রায়}}), {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|DFC}} (2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) was the sole Indian World War I [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indians-who-lorded-over-European-skies-in-WWI/articleshow/44717029.cms \|title=Indians who lorded over European skies in WWI \|first=Manimugdha S. \|last=Sharma \|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] \|date=8 October 2014 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite web \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indra-lal-roy/1/453110.html \|title=Indra Lal Roy 97th death anniversary: Some unknown facts you must know about the flying ace \|work=[[India Today]] \|date=22 July 2015 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> While serving in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and its successor, the [[Royal Air Force]], he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time,<ref>{{cite book \|first1=Christopher F. \|last1=Shores \|first2=Norman \|last2=Franks \|author-link2=Norman Franks \|first3=Russell F. \|last3=Guest \|title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 \|location=London, UK \|publisher=Grub Street \|year=1990 \|isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 \|page=328}}</ref> making him the first Indian [[flying ace]].<ref name=Wire>{{cite web \|url=https://thewire.in/history/indra-lal-roy-ace-flanders-india-failed-celebrate \|title=Remembering Indra Lal Roy, India's 'Ace' Over Flanders \|author=K. S. Nair \|date=22 July 2017 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]]}}</ref>

	==Family background==		==Family background==
	The second son of Piera Lal Roy and Lolita Roy, he was born in [[Calcutta]], where his father was a barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions. He was nicknamed "Laddie".<ref name = "Dutt JK">{{cite news \|last=Dutt \|first=J. K. \|title=The young air warrior \|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090118/jsp/calcutta/story_10266658.jsp \|access-date=29 June 2015 \|location=Kolkata \|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]] \|date=18 January ~~2022~~}}</ref> Roy came from a highly qualified and distinguished family. The Roy family is a Bengali Brahmin family originally from the Barisal district in present-day Bangladesh. Prior to India's partition, the Roy family was a prominent Zamindar family of East Bengal. The Roy family estate is known as Lakhutia (note: there are several variations of the spelling of this word, including ‘Lakutia’ and ‘Lakhotia’). The Lakhutia Zamindar estate was founded by Roop Chandra Roy in the late 17th century.<ref>Lonely Traveler, Barisal: [http://icwow.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/barisal-lakhutia-jomidar-bari.html Lakhutia Jomidar Bari], 5 January 2015, accessed on 30 July 2017</ref><ref>‘[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7uaGyQssQ Barisal: Durga Sagar and Lakutia Zaminder Bari’] video, in ''The Daily Star'', 22 October 2016, accessed on 30 July 2017.</ref> His older brother, [[Paresh Lal Roy]] (1893–1979), served in the 1st Battalion, [[Honourable Artillery Company]], and later became known as the "father of Indian boxing."<ref name=IndiaToday/> His maternal grandfather, Dr. [[Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chuckerbutty]], was one of the first Indian doctors to be trained in Western medicine.<ref name=IndiaToday/> His nephew, [[Subroto Mukerjee]] (1911–1960), served as a fighter pilot in World War II, and later became the first Indian [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)#Chiefs of the air staff\|Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force]].<ref name=IndiaToday/><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/the-roy-brothers-fighting-for-king-and-emperor/ \|title=The Roy brothers: fighting for King and Emperor \|work=Great War London \|date=9 October 2013 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The second son of Piera Lal Roy and Lolita Roy, he was born in [[Calcutta]], where his father was a barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions. He was nicknamed "Laddie".<ref name = "Dutt JK">{{cite news \|last=Dutt \|first=J. K. \|title=The young air warrior \|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090118/jsp/calcutta/story_10266658.jsp \|access-date=29 June 2015 \|location=Kolkata \|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]] \|date=18 January 2009}}</ref> Roy came from a highly qualified and distinguished family. The Roy family is a Bengali Brahmin family originally from the Barisal district in present-day Bangladesh. Prior to India's partition, the Roy family was a prominent Zamindar family of East Bengal. The Roy family estate is known as Lakhutia (note: there are several variations of the spelling of this word, including ‘Lakutia’ and ‘Lakhotia’). The Lakhutia Zamindar estate was founded by Roop Chandra Roy in the late 17th century.<ref>Lonely Traveler, Barisal: [http://icwow.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/barisal-lakhutia-jomidar-bari.html Lakhutia Jomidar Bari], 5 January 2015, accessed on 30 July 2017</ref><ref>‘[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7uaGyQssQ Barisal: Durga Sagar and Lakutia Zaminder Bari’] video, in ''The Daily Star'', 22 October 2016, accessed on 30 July 2017.</ref> His older brother, [[Paresh Lal Roy]] (1893–1979), served in the 1st Battalion, [[Honourable Artillery Company]], and later became known as the "father of Indian boxing."<ref name=IndiaToday/> His maternal grandfather, Dr. [[Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chuckerbutty]], was one of the first Indian doctors to be trained in Western medicine.<ref name=IndiaToday/> His nephew, [[Subroto Mukerjee]] (1911–1960), served as a fighter pilot in World War II, and later became the first Indian [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)#Chiefs of the air staff\|Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force]].<ref name=IndiaToday/><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/the-roy-brothers-fighting-for-king-and-emperor/ \|title=The Roy brothers: fighting for King and Emperor \|work=Great War London \|date=9 October 2013 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>
	<!-- The names below don't match those above, which appear to be correct (his service record at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/p_air1.htm shows P. L., not P. K.), so I've commented it all out.		<!-- The names below don't match those above, which appear to be correct (his service record at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/p_air1.htm shows P. L., not P. K.), so I've commented it all out.
	His father's name was Prof. P K Roy, a distinguished academician, a member of Indian Education Service and the first Indian principal of the Presidency College, Calcutta. His mother Sarala Roy, a daughter of Durga Mohan Das, was a well-known educational reformer who established the 'Gokhale Memorial Girl's School' and college, one of the premier institution for women.!-->		His father's name was Prof. P K Roy, a distinguished academician, a member of Indian Education Service and the first Indian principal of the Presidency College, Calcutta. His mother Sarala Roy, a daughter of Durga Mohan Das, was a well-known educational reformer who established the 'Gokhale Memorial Girl's School' and college, one of the premier institution for women.!-->

	==First World War==		==First World War==
	When the First World War broke out, Roy was attending [[St Paul's School, London\|St Paul's School]], Hammersmith in London, England. Initially rejected by the [[Royal Flying Corps]] on the grounds of poor eyesight, Roy paid for a second opinion from a leading eye specialist, and the decision was overturned. Five months after turning 18, on 4 April 1917<ref name="telegraphindia2015">{{cite web \|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151108/jsp/7days/story_52007.jsp \|title=He reached for the skies \|location=Kolkata \|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]] \|date=8 November 2015 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref> he joined the RFC, and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] on 5 July.<ref>{{London Gazette \|issue=30203 \|date=24 July 1917 \|pages=7607–7608 \|supp=y \|nolink=yes}}</ref> After training and gunnery practice at [[Vendôme]] and [[RAF Turnberry\|Turnberry]], he joined [[No. 56 Squadron RAF\|No. 56 Squadron]] on 30 October. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by Captain [[Richard Maybery]].<ref name="firstworldwar">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm \|title=Who's Who – Indra Lal Roy \|work=First World War.com \|year=2013 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref>		When the First World War broke out, Roy was attending [[St Paul's School, London\|St Paul's School]], Hammersmith in London, England. Initially rejected by the [[Royal Flying Corps]] on the grounds of poor eyesight, Roy paid for a second opinion from a leading eye specialist, and the decision was overturned. Five months after turning 18, on 4 April 1917<ref name="telegraphindia2015">{{cite web \|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151108/jsp/7days/story_52007.jsp \|title=He reached for the skies \|location=Kolkata \|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]] \|date=8 November 2015 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> he joined the RFC, and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] on 5 July.<ref>{{London Gazette \|issue=30203 \|date=24 July 1917 \|pages=7607–7608 \|supp=y \|nolink=yes}}</ref> After training and gunnery practice at [[Vendôme]] and [[RAF Turnberry\|Turnberry]], he joined [[No. 56 Squadron RAF\|No. 56 Squadron]] on 30 October. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by Captain [[Richard Maybery]].<ref name="firstworldwar">{{cite web \|url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm \|title=Who's Who – Indra Lal Roy \|work=First World War.com \|year=2013 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

	On 6 December, Roy was injured and knocked unconscious after he crash-landed his [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5\|S.E.5a]] fighter. Thought to be dead, he woke up in a French [[morgue]].<ref name=Wire/> While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which survive. In May he returned to duty as an equipment officer and within a few weeks was passed as medically fit to fly.<ref name="FlightObit">{{cite journal \|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201005.html \|title=Personals: Casualties \|issue=508 \|volume=X \|page=1005 \|journal=[[Flight International\|Flight]] \|date=5 September 1918 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref> He was transferred to Captain [[George McElroy]]'s flight in [[No. 40 Squadron RAF\|No. 40 Squadron]] in June 1918.<ref name="firstworldwar"/>		On 6 December, Roy was injured and knocked unconscious after he crash-landed his [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5\|S.E.5a]] fighter. Thought to be dead, he woke up in a French [[morgue]].<ref name=Wire/> While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which survive. In May he returned to duty as an equipment officer and within a few weeks was passed as medically fit to fly.<ref name="FlightObit">{{cite journal \|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201005.html \|title=Personals: Casualties \|issue=508 \|volume=X \|page=1005 \|journal=[[Flight International\|Flight]] \|date=5 September 1918 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> He was transferred to Captain [[George McElroy]]'s flight in [[No. 40 Squadron RAF\|No. 40 Squadron]] in June 1918.<ref name="firstworldwar"/>

	On his return to active service, Roy achieved ten victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first was a [[Hannoversche Waggonfabrik\|Hannover]] over [[Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais\|Drocourt]] on 6 July. This was followed by three victories in the space of four hours on 8 July (two Hannover Cs and a [[Fokker D.VII]]); two on 13 July (a Hannover C and a [[Pfalz D.III]]); two on 15 July (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July (a [[DFW C.V]]). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over [[Cagnicourt]].<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web \|url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/india/roy.php \|title=Indra Lal Roy \|work=The Aerodrome \|year=2016 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref>{{better source needed\|date=December 2021\|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} He is believed to be the first and only Indian flying ace of the First World War.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-34860666 \|title=Three generations united by the hell of war \|first=Alastair \|last=Lawson \|work=BBC News \|date=22 December 2015 \|access-date=22 December 2015 }}</ref>		On his return to active service, Roy achieved ten victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first was a [[Hannoversche Waggonfabrik\|Hannover]] over [[Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais\|Drocourt]] on 6 July. This was followed by three victories in the space of four hours on 8 July (two Hannover Cs and a [[Fokker D.VII]]); two on 13 July (a Hannover C and a [[Pfalz D.III]]); two on 15 July (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July (a [[DFW C.V]]). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over [[Cagnicourt]].<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web \|url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/india/roy.php \|title=Indra Lal Roy \|work=The Aerodrome \|year=2016 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>{{better source needed\|date=December 2021\|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} He is believed to be the first and only Indian flying ace of the First World War.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-34860666 \|title=Three generations united by the hell of war \|first=Alastair \|last=Lawson \|work=BBC News \|date=22 December 2015 \|access-date=22 December 2015 }}</ref>

	Roy was killed over [[Carvin]] on 22 July 1918 in a [[dog fight]] against the [[Fokker D.VII]]s of ''[[Jagdstaffel 29]]''.<ref name="firstworldwar"/> He is buried at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/325397/ROY,%20INDRULAL%20L \|title=Casualty Details: Roy, Indrulal L. \|work=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] \|year=2016 \|access-date=1 January ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Roy was killed over [[Carvin]] on 22 July 1918 in a [[dog fight]] against the [[Fokker D.VII]]s of ''[[Jagdstaffel 29]]''.<ref name="firstworldwar"/> He is buried at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/325397/ROY,%20INDRULAL%20L \|title=Casualty Details: Roy, Indrulal L. \|work=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] \|year=2016 \|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

	===List of aerial victories===		===List of aerial victories===
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	[[File:Indra Lal Roy 1998 stamp of India.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy on a 1998 stamp of India]]		[[File:Indra Lal Roy 1998 stamp of India.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy on a 1998 stamp of India]]
	[[File:Indra Lal Roy 2019 stamp of India.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy on a 2019 stamp of India]]		[[File:Indra Lal Roy 2019 stamp of India.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy on a 2019 stamp of India]]
	Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)<ref name = "Dutt JK"/> in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He was the first Indian to receive the DFC.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/lalroy.htm \|title=Officer's record: Indra Lal Roy (RFC and RAF) \|work=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)\|The National Archives]] \|access-date=8 October ~~2022~~}}</ref> His citation read:		Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)<ref name = "Dutt JK"/> in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He was the first Indian to receive the DFC.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/lalroy.htm \|title=Officer's record: Indra Lal Roy (RFC and RAF) \|work=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)\|The National Archives]] \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> His citation read:
	[[File:L L ROY.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy's grave at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France]]		[[File:L L ROY.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|Indra Lal Roy's grave at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France]]

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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==
	* {{cite book \|title=For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front \|first=Shrabani \|last=Basu \|location=New Delhi \|publisher=Bloomsbury India \|year=~~2022~~}}		* {{cite book \|title=For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front \|first=Shrabani \|last=Basu \|location=New Delhi \|publisher=Bloomsbury India \|year=2015}}

	==External links==		==External links==
	{{Commons category\|Indra Lal Roy}}		{{Commons category\|Indra Lal Roy}}
	* {{cite web \|url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm \|work=First World War.com \|title=Indra Lal Roy \|access-date=9 September ~~2022~~}}		* {{cite web \|url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm \|work=First World War.com \|title=Indra Lal Roy \|access-date=9 September 2005}}

	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

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2021-07-22T00:31:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:01, 22 July 2021
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	'''Indra Lal Roy''' ({{Lang-bn\|ইন্দ্রলাল রায়}}), {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|DFC}} (2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) is the sole Indian World War I [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indians-who-lorded-over-European-skies-in-WWI/articleshow/44717029.cms \|title=Indians who lorded over European skies in WWI \|first=Manimugdha S. \|last=Sharma \|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] \|date=8 October 2014 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite web \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indra-lal-roy/1/453110.html \|title=Indra Lal Roy 97th death anniversary: Some unknown facts you must know about the flying ace \|work=[[India Today]] \|date=22 July 2015 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> While serving in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and its successor, the [[Royal Air Force]], he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time,<ref>{{cite book \|first1=Christopher F. \|last1=Shores \|first2=Norman \|last2=Franks \|author-link2=Norman Franks \|first3=Russell F. \|last3=Guest \|title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 \|location=London, UK \|publisher=Grub Street \|year=1990 \|isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 \|page=328}}</ref> making him the first Indian [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://thewire.in/history/indra-lal-roy-ace-flanders-india-failed-celebrate \|title=Remembering Indra Lal Roy, India's 'Ace' Over Flanders \|author=K. S. Nair \|date=22 July 2017 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]]}}</ref>		'''Indra Lal Roy''' ({{Lang-bn\|ইন্দ্রলাল রায়}}), {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|DFC}} (2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) was the sole Indian World War I [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indians-who-lorded-over-European-skies-in-WWI/articleshow/44717029.cms \|title=Indians who lorded over European skies in WWI \|first=Manimugdha S. \|last=Sharma \|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] \|date=8 October 2014 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite web \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indra-lal-roy/1/453110.html \|title=Indra Lal Roy 97th death anniversary: Some unknown facts you must know about the flying ace \|work=[[India Today]] \|date=22 July 2015 \|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> While serving in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and its successor, the [[Royal Air Force]], he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time,<ref>{{cite book \|first1=Christopher F. \|last1=Shores \|first2=Norman \|last2=Franks \|author-link2=Norman Franks \|first3=Russell F. \|last3=Guest \|title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 \|location=London, UK \|publisher=Grub Street \|year=1990 \|isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 \|page=328}}</ref> making him the first Indian [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://thewire.in/history/indra-lal-roy-ace-flanders-india-failed-celebrate \|title=Remembering Indra Lal Roy, India's 'Ace' Over Flanders \|author=K. S. Nair \|date=22 July 2017 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]]}}</ref>

	==Family background==		==Family background==

2001:8003:38A3:B100:A454:4B09:E5C6:8C50: /* Family background */

2021-03-07T05:05:56Z

Family background

New page

{{short description|Indian World War I flying ace}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Infobox military person
| name = Indra Lal Roy
| image = Laddie Roy.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt = Indra Lal Roy in his Royal Flying Corps uniform
| caption = Indra Lal Roy in his Royal Flying Corps uniform.
| native_name = ইন্দ্রলাল রায়
| native_name_lang = bn
| birth_name =
| nickname = "Laddie"
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1898|12|2}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1918|7|22|1898|12|2}}
| death_place = [[Carvin]], France
| placeofburial = [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, [[Pas-de-Calais]], France
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = {{Coord|50|28|32|N|2|54|02|E|display=inline,title}}
| allegiance = United Kingdom
| branch = [[British Indian Army]] [[Royal Flying Corps]]
| serviceyears = 1917–1918
| rank = [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit = [[No. 56 Squadron RFC]] [[No. 40 Squadron RAF]]
| commands =
| battles = World War I {{*}}[[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
| memorials =
| spouse = 
| relations = [[Paresh Lal Roy]] (brother)
[[Lolita Roy]] (mother)
| laterwork =
}}

'''Indra Lal Roy''' ({{Lang-bn|ইন্দ্রলাল রায়}}), {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DFC}} (2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) is the sole Indian World War I [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indians-who-lorded-over-European-skies-in-WWI/articleshow/44717029.cms |title=Indians who lorded over European skies in WWI |first=Manimugdha S. |last=Sharma |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=8 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indra-lal-roy/1/453110.html |title=Indra Lal Roy 97th death anniversary: Some unknown facts you must know about the flying ace |work=[[India Today]] |date=22 July 2015 |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> While serving in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and its successor, the [[Royal Air Force]], he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed (one shared), and five 'down out of control' (one shared) in just over 170 hours flying time,<ref>{{cite book |first1=Christopher F. |last1=Shores |first2=Norman |last2=Franks |author-link2=Norman Franks |first3=Russell F. |last3=Guest |title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 |page=328}}</ref> making him the first Indian [[flying ace]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/history/indra-lal-roy-ace-flanders-india-failed-celebrate |title=Remembering Indra Lal Roy, India's 'Ace' Over Flanders |author=K. S. Nair |date=22 July 2017 |publisher=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref>

==Family background==
The second son of Piera Lal Roy and Lolita Roy, he was born in [[Calcutta]], where his father was a barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions. He was nicknamed "Laddie".<ref name = "Dutt JK">{{cite news |last=Dutt |first=J. K. |title=The young air warrior |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090118/jsp/calcutta/story_10266658.jsp |access-date=29 June 2015 |location=Kolkata |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=18 January 2009}}</ref> Roy came from a highly qualified and distinguished family. The Roy family is a Bengali Brahmin family originally from the Barisal district in present-day Bangladesh. Prior to India's partition, the Roy family was a prominent Zamindar family of East Bengal. The Roy family estate is known as Lakhutia (note: there are several variations of the spelling of this word, including ‘Lakutia’ and ‘Lakhotia’). The Lakhutia Zamindar estate was founded by Roop Chandra Roy in the late 17th century.<ref>Lonely Traveler, Barisal: [http://icwow.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/barisal-lakhutia-jomidar-bari.html Lakhutia Jomidar Bari], 5 January 2015, accessed on 30 July 2017</ref><ref>‘[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7uaGyQssQ Barisal: Durga Sagar and Lakutia Zaminder Bari’] video, in ''The Daily Star'', 22 October 2016, accessed on 30 July 2017.</ref> His older brother, [[Paresh Lal Roy]] (1893–1979), served in the 1st Battalion, [[Honourable Artillery Company]], and later became known as the "father of Indian boxing."<ref name=IndiaToday/> His maternal grandfather, Dr. [[Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chuckerbutty]], was one of the first Indian doctors to be trained in Western medicine.<ref name=IndiaToday/> His nephew, [[Subroto Mukerjee]] (1911–1960), served as a fighter pilot in World War II, and later became the first Indian [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)#Chiefs of the air staff|Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force]].<ref name=IndiaToday/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/the-roy-brothers-fighting-for-king-and-emperor/ |title=The Roy brothers: fighting for King and Emperor |work=Great War London |date=9 October 2013 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>


==First World War==
When the First World War broke out, Roy was attending [[St Paul's School, London|St Paul's School]], Hammersmith in London, England. Initially rejected by the [[Royal Flying Corps]] on the grounds of poor eyesight, Roy paid for a second opinion from a leading eye specialist, and the decision was overturned. Five months after turning 18, on 4 April 1917<ref name="telegraphindia2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151108/jsp/7days/story_52007.jsp |title=He reached for the skies |location=Kolkata |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=8 November 2015 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> he joined the RFC, and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] on 5 July.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30203 |date=24 July 1917 |pages=7607–7608 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref> After training and gunnery practice at [[Vendôme]] and [[RAF Turnberry|Turnberry]], he joined [[No. 56 Squadron RAF|No. 56 Squadron]] on 30 October. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by Captain [[Richard Maybery]].<ref name="firstworldwar">{{cite web |url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm |title=Who's Who – Indra Lal Roy |work=First World War.com |year=2013 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

Two months later, Roy was injured after he crash-landed his [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5|S.E.5a]] fighter on 6 December. While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which survive. In May he returned to duty as an equipment officer and within a few weeks was passed as medically fit to fly.<ref name="FlightObit">{{cite journal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201005.html |title=Personals: Casualties |issue=508 |volume=X |page=1005 |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=5 September 1918 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> He was transferred to Captain [[George McElroy]]'s flight in [[No. 40 Squadron RAF|No. 40 Squadron]] in June 1918.<ref name="firstworldwar"/>

On his return to active service, Roy achieved ten victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first was a [[Hannoversche Waggonfabrik|Hannover]] over [[Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais|Drocourt]] on 6 July. This was followed by three victories in the space of four hours on 8 July (two Hannover Cs and a [[Fokker D.VII]]); two on 13 July (a Hannover C and a [[Pfalz D.III]]); two on 15 July (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July (a [[DFW C.V]]). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over [[Cagnicourt]].<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/india/roy.php |title=Indra Lal Roy |work=The Aerodrome |year=2016 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> He is believed to be the first and only Indian flying ace of the First World War.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-34860666 |title=Three generations united by the hell of war |first=Alastair |last=Lawson |work=BBC News |date=22 December 2015 |access-date=22 December 2015 }}</ref>

Roy was killed over [[Carvin]] on 22 July 1918 in a [[dog fight]] against the [[Fokker D.VII]]s of ''[[Jagdstaffel 29]]''.<ref name="firstworldwar"/> He is buried at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/325397/ROY,%20INDRULAL%20L |title=Casualty Details: Roy, Indrulal L. |work=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] |year=2016 |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

===List of aerial victories===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
|-
|+Combat record<ref name="theaerodrome"/>
|-
!No.
! width="110" |Date/Time
! width="110" |Aircraft/ Serial No.
!Opponent
!Result
!Location
!Notes
|-
| 1
| 6 July 1918 @ 0545
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Hannover C
| Out of control
| [[Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais|Drocourt]]
|
|-
| 2
| 8 July 1918 @ 0645
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Hannover C
| Out of control
| Drocourt
|
|-
| 3
| 8 July 1918 @ 0925
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Hannover C
| Out of control
| East of Monchy
| Shared with Captain [[George McElroy]] and Lieutenant Gilbert Strange.
|-
| 4
| 8 July 1918 @ 1025
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Fokker D.VII
| Out of control
| South-east of [[Douai]]
|
|-
| 5
| 13 July 1918 @ 0645
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Hannover C
| Destroyed
| West of [[Estaires]]
| Shared with Captain George McElroy, and Lieutenants Gilbert Strange & F. H. Knobel.
|-
| 6
| 13 July 1918 @ 2005
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Pfalz D.III
| Destroyed
| [[Vitry-en-Artois|Vitry]] — [[Brebières]]
|
|-
| 7
| rowspan="2" |15 July 1918 @ 2005
| rowspan="2" |S.E.5a (B180)
| Fokker D.VII
| Destroyed
| rowspan="2" |Hulloch
|
|-
| 8
| Fokker D.VII || Out of control
|
|-
| 9
| 18 July 1918 @ 2040
| S.E.5a (B180)
| DFW C.V
| Destroyed
| South-east of [[Arras]]
|
|-
|10
| 19 July 1918 @ 1025
| S.E.5a (B180)
| Hannover C
| Destroyed
| [[Cagnicourt]]
|
|-
|}

==Awards and honours==
[[File:Indra Lal Roy 1998 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Indra Lal Roy on a 1998 stamp of India]]
[[File:Indra Lal Roy 2019 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Indra Lal Roy on a 2019 stamp of India]]
Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)<ref name = "Dutt JK"/> in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He was the first Indian to receive the DFC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/lalroy.htm |title=Officer's record: Indra Lal Roy (RFC and RAF) |work=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> His citation read:
[[File:L L ROY.jpg|thumb|Indra Lal Roy's grave at [[Estevelles]] Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France]]

:Lieutenant Indra Lal Roy.
::"A very gallant and determined officer, who in thirteen days accounted for nine enemy machines. In these several engagements he has displayed remarkable skill and daring, on more than one occasion accounting for two machines in one patrol. (20 September 1918)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30913 |date=20 September 1918 |page=11254 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref>

In December 1998, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the [[India Posts|Indian postal service]] issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.<ref name="Dutt JK"/>

==See also==
* [[Jogendra Nath Sen]]
* [[Karun Krishna Majumdar]]
* [[List of World War I flying aces from India]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front |first=Shrabani |last=Basu |location=New Delhi |publisher=Bloomsbury India |year=2015}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Indra Lal Roy}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/roy.htm |work=First World War.com |title=Indra Lal Roy |access-date=9 September 2005}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roy, Indra Lal}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1918 deaths]]
[[Category:Royal Flying Corps officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:British World War I flying aces]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian aviators]]
[[Category:Bengali people]]
[[Category:People educated at St Paul's School, London]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War I]]