Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address At Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eyes: Hair: Trade: Marital Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Grant Russell Graves

Sources Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave.com

Grant Russell Graves Warrant Officer Class II R/65174 Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron June 11, 1920 Port Williams, Kings Co., NS June 26, 1940 Halifax, NS Port Williams, Kings Co., NS 20 5 feet, 6 inches Fair Brown Dark Brown Watch Repairer Single Baptist William Henry Graves (Father) Port Williams. Kings Co., NS April 12, 1942 21 St Catherine Churchyard, Ringshall, Suffolk, UK Row B Commemorated on page 77 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 20 Grant Russell Graves was the son of William Henry Graves (1880–1955) and Maude (Sim) Graves (1885–1922), of Port Williams, King's Co., NS. He completed his elementary schooling at the Port Williams School and his high school in Wolfville, NS in June, 1939. He repaired watches on his own after 1936, beginning as a hobby and continued until his enlistment with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940. He enjoyed the sports of swimming, hockey, tennis, boxing and wrestling. His hobby was stamp collecting. Warrant Officer Graves first applied to the RCAF in October, 1939 and was advised he was on a waiting list on December 6, 1939. He then received word on March 26, 1940, that he he must complete a further application. He applied and was accepted for training as air crew on June 26, 1940. After initial training in Canada, between June 26, 1940 and April 8, 1942, he went overseas to the United Kingdom. He continued his training there and served with 12 Operational Training Unit and 21 Operational Training Unit. He joined 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Oakington on September 9, 1941 and joined 405 Squadron on December 12, 1941. 405 "Vancouver" Squadron was under RAF operational command. It was the first of many Canadian heavy bomber squadrons and remained with Bomber Command until October 1942. While serving with 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, Pocklington, as a Wireless, Air Gunner, Warrant Officer Graves lost his life on April 12, 1942 at Creeting St. Mary, near Stowmarket, Suffolk, the result of an air crash. The aircraft, a Wellington II (W531), was on return from air operations over Essen, Germany. The port motor failed and the plane went into a dive despite efforts to level the flight and put out the ensuing engine fire. The pilot ordered the crew to evacuate. Four members of the crew parachuted from the aircraft; however, Warrant Officer Graves and the pilot, Flight Sergeant David Kilgour Lloyd plane remained with the aircraft. Both Warrant Officer Graves and Flight Sergeant Lloyd died when the Wellington exploded and crashed shortly after midnight. Both men were buried in St Catherine Churchyard, Ringshall, Suffolk, UK on April 18, 1942.

Willowbank Cemetery, Wolfville, NS

St Catherine Churchyard