b. 10/03/1914 Leyton, London. d. 16/09/1961 Walsall, Staffordshire.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 20/09/1939 France.
Reginald Cubitt Graveley EGM/GC was born on 10th March 1914 in Leyton, London, the son of Reginald Hugh Graveley and his wife Ethel (nee Cubitt). Reg, as he was known, gained employment with the London General Omnibus Company after leaving school, and was able to join the flying club, where he first learnt to fly. Having a talent for it, he joined the RAF in 1936 under the short service commission scheme. He was then posted to 88 Squadron based at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire.
Reginald C Graveley GC
On 20th September 1939 in the early weeks of the Second World War, he was on a bombing mission to Aachen in Germany, when his Fairey Battle bomber was shot down in flames. Although badly burned, he pulled the observer, Sergeant Everett, from the wreckage and then returned for the air gunner, Aircraftman John. However, he found him dead and unable to lift him from the cockpit. The plane crashed in France.
Graveley was awarded the EGM, which was exchanged for a GC (presented to him at Buckingham Palace on 23rd September 1941), and had to recuperate from his injuries in hospital for 7 months. He then became Senior Photographic Officer to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. He then moved to the USA to be Liaison Officer to the US Air Corps. When he relinquished his commission, he joined the Gloster Aircraft Company as a test pilot. By 1945, he had joined Brockhouse. He married Kathleen Rebecca Wolner who originally came from New Zealand. They went on to have two sons, John and Rex.
In 1951, Reg created his own company, Terric Studios which later became Lithograve. On 16th September 1961, Reg passed away at the young age of 47 in Walsall. He was cremated at Ryecroft Crematorium and his ashes scattered from an aircraft.His medals are held by the RAF Museum at Hendon.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: RAF MUSEUM, HENDON, LONDON.
BURIAL PLACE: RYECROFT CREMATORIUM, WALSALL. (IN BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE).
ASHES SCATTERED FROM AN AIRCRAFT.
