RAF Volunteer Reserve
1817484
Sergeant Charles Septimus Aliband Graves was killed during an operation with 101 Squadron on Les Hayons, France on 24 Jun 1944, aged 30. He is buried at St James Churchyard, Southam and remembered on the Leamington College for Boys Memorial and on Air Crew Remembered.
Charles was born on 26 September 1913, the only child of Charles Thomas Graves (1869-1948), a land valuer and auctioneer, and Florence Annie Aliband (1877- 1957) from Southam. They had married there in 1911 and Charles spent his early years living at Daventry Street. Later, the family moved to 10 Willes Terrace, Leamington Spa and Charles attended Leamington College for Boys.
Charles married Doreen Patricia (Paddy) Gower Crane (1920-2011) in 1939 and they lived with his parents in the family home. Charles did not enter the family auctioneering business but was employed as a Cost Clerk at Lea-Francis Engineering (1937) Ltd. in Much Park Street, Coventry. The company made motor cars and high-performance engines. His obituary suggests he was well-known in the motor works industry and had also worked at the Riley Motor Company. Before joining the RAF he also served as an Air Raid Precautions Ambulance Driver.
After joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve, the usual route into the RAF, Charles Graves served with 101 Squadron, Bomber Command. He then volunteered as a Special Duty Operator (SDO) and Air Gunner. According to International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive, Graves would have operated a specialist radio-countermeasures system, known as the Airborne Cigar to disrupt German communications. He was required to have some knowledge of the German language to listen out for enemy night-fighter control transmissions and then jam the frequencies to prevent attacks on British bombing planes. The tough working conditions of SDOs were tough: they were cut off from the crew except for an intercom, and placed behind a curtain in a dark, cold and cramped space on the port side, with a cathode ray tube and three transmitters and the mid-upper gunner sited a few feet above. The Operators had to wear a bulky electrically-heated flying suit and gloves, which made if difficult to operate the switches.
Charles’ plane, Lancaster LL772 ,departed from Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire at 15.44 p.m. on 24 June 1944 piloted by Pilot Officer Robert Sharp. Their mission was to attack flying-bomb sites near Les Hayons. They were hit by anti-aircraft fire and Charles was wounded by shrapnel. As the crew continued to complete their mission, he did not receive immediate medical attention. The Lancaster returned to a nearer airport, landing at 18.32 at Selsey Bill, Sussex, where Charles’ body was removed and then flew back to its base at Ludford.
Charles’ wife was initially informed that he had died in a crash on take-off at Ludford, in a communication mix-up. Just a few days later, a notice placed by his parents attributed the death of their ‘dearest and only son’ to an accident. Charles’ funeral took place near their home at St James’ Church, Southam and amongst the mourners were representatives from the RAF and Lea-Francis Engineering Ltd.
Charles’ grave at St James’ Church, Southam.
In 1947, Charles’ widow, Dorothy married Emile Karl (Charles) Dejonghe (1919-2007) from Ostend, Belgium, in Middlesex. They had four children and lived in Warwickshire. Charles’ parents continued to reside in Leamington Spa.
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Additional sources of information
101 Squadron Association
Air Crew Remembered
Leamington History Group Website: Griffin, Alan Leamington College Boys
Imperial War Museum: Air Historical Branch of the Ministry of Lancaster Wireless Operator.
International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) Digital Archive
Leamington College of Boys memorial
National Archives Operations Record Book Ref series AIR 27
RAF Website
St James Graveyard, Southam
Simpson, Ian (Feb 2025) Aeroplane article on LL772.
The Naval and Military Press Ltd.
UK and Allied Countries, Index of International Bomber Command Losses, 1936-1966;
UK, Royal Air Force Operations Record Books
UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Naval and Military Press; Uckfield, East Sussex, England;
Airmen Died in the Second World War 1939-45; UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945;
Wiki Lea-Francis (1937) Company
