E. Graham Joy

Major Ernest Graham Joy was an American-born Canadian who became a flying ace during World War I. He set aside his law studies and family obligations to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, he was officially credited with eight aerial victories within two months while flying as a bomber pilot. While he left military service after World War I to practice law, he would return to the colours for World War II.

Early life
Ernest Graham Joy was born in Anniston, Alabama, U. S. A. on 2 November 1888. He was the son of Jean Hannah Graham and Harold Holt Joy.

He was a third year law student in Osgoode Hall Law School's Class of 1916 in Toronto when he enlisted into the 74th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 1 July 1915. On his enlistment forms, he claimed to be married. Because of five years previous experience in the Canadian military, he was accepted at the rank of major. His oath of allegiance to King George V denoted him as a naturalized Canadian citizen, as an American could not swear such an oath without losing his citizenship.

However, genealogical records give his marriage date as 15 July 1915. He married Dorothy Ewart Primrose of Toronto in Humphries Township. His military unit at time of marriage was recorded as 60th Battalion, CEF.

Joy's physical examination at enlistment showed him to be 6 feet 1/2 inch tall, with swarthy complexion and brown hair and eyes.

World War I
On 23 April 1917 Major E. G. Joy was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps from the Central Ontario Regiment, CEF. On 9 May 1917, he was posted to 49 Squadron, but soon moved on to 23 Squadron. In June or July 1917, he was assigned to 57 Squadron as a bomber pilot. He would score seven victories for them in July and August 1917, before going to 205 Squadron. There he would score once more, a week before war's end.

On 1 September, he became a Flight Commander.

List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Post World War I
On 31 May 1919, Joy's seconding to aviation ceased. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1919, though no details of the award are available. There also is no record of his discharge date from the military; however, he returned to Canada and practiced law.

Joy served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.

He died in Toronto, Canada on 21 June 1993.

Endnotes

 * Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. Norman Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
 * The Canada Law Journal, Volume 52. Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association; editors: James Patton, W. D. Ardagh, Robert Alexander Harrison, Henry O'Brien, Charles Bagot Labatt, Charles Morse. Canada Law Book Company, Limited, 1916. ISBN unknown.