The late Indra Lal Roy was the most accomplished of all Indian pilots who flew during the First World War. Born in Calcutta on 2nd December 1898, this gallant flyer was only 16 when the war broke out in Europe. He had been a  student at St. Paul's School, Kensington, London since May 1911 and left to sign up for the Royal Flying Corps as soon as he reached military age in April 1917. He was granted a commission in the service as 2nd Lieut. (General List) on 5th July 1917, a few months short of his 19th birthday. Five days after commissioning into the service, Roy moved to Vendrome for flying training. And after a stint at the Gunnery School at Turnberry, Roy was posted to No.56 Squadron on 30 October 1917. A member of "A" Flight under Richard Maybery, Roy was injured when his S.E.5a (B567) crashed on the morning of 6 December.

After his recovery Roy was posted back to Farnborough, England on 14th January 1918. While at Farnborough Roy indulged his passion for sketching aeroplanes. Many of these sketches: of S.E.5a, Sopwith Camels, the SPAD, the DeHavilland Vs, the Alabtross, Fokker bi-planes and others have survived. Despite concerns that he was medically unfit to fly, he was reassigned to No.40 Squadron under George McElroy on 19th June 1918. Between the 6th of July and the 19th of July 1918 the the 19 year old was credited with ten victories (five Hannover C.s, three Fokker D. VIIs, one Pfalz D.III and one DFW. C) in just over 170 hours of flight time. Although his last kill, a Hannover C. over Cagincourt on 19th July, was not verified and credited until much later. On the morning of 22 July 1918, three days after scoring his final victory, this gallant young man was killed in action when his plane went down in flames over Carvin during a dogfight with Fokker D.VIIs of Jasta 29.

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 21st September 1918, the first Indian so honoured. The citation read: "A very gallant and determined young officer, who in 13 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."

After his death, Roy's Commanding Officer wrote to Mrs. P.L. Roy, Indra's mother saying, "From the time he came to this squadron, his one aim in life was to shoot down Huns, and through his skill as a pilot and wonderful dash he succeeded in bringing down nine enemy machines. For the time he was here, he had a wonderfully fine record. I am sure; he was very happy here, he was admired by all the men and officers in the Squadron, and was very popular in the mess. I am sure he will be rewarded for the brave deeds he has done."

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