Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) Officers 1939-1945 -- G

Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) (RAF(VR)) Officers
1939-1945

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Only RAF officers of ranks below Air Commodore will be shown here. Abbreviations and explanations can be found at the help page.

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Garrett,
Albert Edward
A.E. Garrett (Photo courtesy of Mr Anthony Garrett)
Son of Albert Edward Garrett, and Ellen Elizabeth Dedman.
Married Winifred Grace Brooman, of Sutton Coldfield; two sons.
01.04.1897
-
12.10.1941
[age 44]
[Sutton Coldfield Cemetery, section C, nonconformist, grave 590]

(A) P/O (prob)
05.04.1941 [64488]

(WS) F/O
?

(A) F/Lt.
?

05.04.1941

commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

?
-
12.10.1941
pilot, 495 Squadron RAF
[killed during training flight - crashed into a Barrage Balloon wire]

Gatward,
Alfred Kitchener
"Ken"
A.K. Gatward

personal narrative 28.08.1914
-
11.1998
Colchester, Essex

F/Sgt. ?
? [740730]

P/O (prob)
27.07.1940 [83251]

P/O
27.07.1941, seniority 21.07.1941

(WS) F/O
27.07.1941, seniority 21.07.1941

(WS) F/Lt.
27.07.1942, seniority 21.07.1942

(A) Sq.Ldr.
(01.1944)

(WS) Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1944

Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1946, seniority 01.09.1945

W/Cdr.
01.11.1947, seniority 01.07.1947

Gp.Capt.
01.07.1957 (retd 03.09.1964)

DSO
02.06.1944
?

DFC
> 07.1942
< 01.1944
?

DFC
03.10.1944
*

MID
14.01.1944
?

* This officer has led the squadron with great skill and gallantry in many sorties. In July 1944, he particpated in an operation which resulted in the destruction of an enemy convoy, comprising 3 medium sized merchant vessels and 6 escorting ships. In August, 1944, Wing Commander Gatward led his squadron in an attack on a target in the Gironde area. During the operation his aircraft was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire and sustained serious damage. Nevertheless, he flew safely to base in the face of great difficulty. This officer has displayed leadership of the highest order.

27.07.1940

commissioned RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

flying Beaufighters with Coastal Command
[on 12.06.1942, crewed by Flight Lieutenant A.K. Gatward (Pilot) & Sergeant G. Fern (Observer), a Beaufighter dropped a French Tricolore on the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, and then strafed the nearby Headquarters of the Kriegsmarine]

03.1944
-
24.08.1944
CO 404 (RCAF) Squadron

went on to command a whole Beaufighter Coastal Strike Wing later in the war with the Mk.X

01.07.1946
-
03.09.1964
permanent commision RAF (General Duties Branch)

03.09.1964
-
07.01.1971
Flying Officer, RAFVR (Training Branch)

Gibb,
Matthew
M. Gibb
Changed name from Matiozas Waytkeviczia to Matthew Gibb by deed poll of 05.06.1946.

09.10.1920
-
03.05.2008

Ldg.Acm.
? [1335435]

P/O (prob)
31.10.1942 [131773]

(WS) F/O (prob)
03.05.1943

(WS) F/Lt.
06.11.1944

31.10.1942

first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

?
-
13.05.1943
navigator, 51 Squadron RAF (shot down)

13.05.1943
-
04.1945
POW in German captivity

Gibb,
Walter Frame
W.F. Gibb

26.03.1919
near Port Talbot
-
04.10.2006

Ldg.Acm.
? [913424]

P/O (prob)
24.11.1940 [88881]

P/O
24.11.1941

(WS) F/O
24.11.1941, seniority 19.11.1941

(WS) F/Lt.
24.11.1942, seniority 19.11.1942

(A) Sq.Ldr.
1943?

(WS) Sq.Ldr.
20.12.1944

(A) W/Cdr.
09.1944

DSO
01.05.1945
*

DFC
06.07.1943
**

* Wing Commander Gibb has completed very many sorties since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Highly efficient, brave and resolute, this officer has set a splendid example to all. Among his successes is the destruction of five enemy aircraft, three of which he shot down in the early days of March, 1945.
** Squadron Leader Gibb has displayed great skill as a pilot during operations both by day and night. During one day he severely damaged 7 locomotives in France. On another occasion, he led a section of 3 aircraft which engaged 2 Junkers 88's over the Bay of Biscay. Owing to his skilful leadership both of the enemy aircraft were destroyed. This officer has displayed great courage and tenacity.

Education: Clifton College

05.1940

joined RAFVR

24.11.1940

first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

(1943)

264 Squadron RAF

(1943)

611 Squadron RAF

07.1943

Flight Commander, 605 Squadron RAF

test squadron of the Central Flying School

09.1944
-
1945
Commanding Officer, 239 Squadron RAF

Giddings,
[Sir] Kenneth Charles [Michael] *
K.C. Giddings
* officially known as K.C. Giddings; third middle name seems to have been added in the mid-1940s

Son of Charles Giddings, and Grace Gregory.
Married (1946) Elizabeth McConnell; two sons,
two daughters.

27.08.1920
Walthamstow, West Ham district, Essex
-
05.04.2009
[Reading, Berkshire?]

Sgt.
? [1331014]

P/O (prob)
01.11.1941 [113414]

F/O (prob)
01.10.1942

(WS) F/Lt.
01.11.1943

F/Lt.
02.04.1946, seniority 01.09.1945

...
...

Air Marshal
01.01.1974 (retd 19.06.1976)

KCB
01.01.1975
New Year 75

OBE
05.06.1952
HM's birthday 52

DFC
09.02.1945
*

AFC
08.06.1950
?

AFC
02.01.1956
?

* Flight Lieutenant Giddings has completed a very large number of varied sorties. He has led his flight and, on occasions, the squadron with great skill and determination, factors which have contributed in good measure to the successes obtained. In air fighting Flight Lieutenant Giddings has destroyed four and damaged several more enemy aircraft.

see:

RAFWeb.org

MRAeS

Giles,
David
D. Giles
Son of Frederick William Giles and Margaret Mary Maud Palin Giles (née Evans), of Gordons, Almondsbury, near Bristol.
Brother of Capt. John F. Giles, and Capt. Bruce T. Giles, both of The Gloucestershire Regiment
27.05.1922
Abbots Leigh, Long Ashton district, Somerset
-
10.2003
South Somerset district, Somerset

Sgt.
? [1316255]

P/O (prob)
30.01.1942 [121291]

(WS) F/O (prob)
01.10.1942

(WS) F/Lt.
30.01.1944

F/Lt. RAF
28.01.1947, seniority 01.09.1945

Sq.Ldr. RAF
01.01.1951 (retd 03.10.1964; own request)

DFC
07.04.1944
?

flying training in Canada

30.01.1942

commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

(1944)

255 Squadron RAF

28.01.1947

commissoined, RAF (General Duties Branch) [permanent commission]

Gill,
Alexander George
A.G. Gill
Married; one son.
1914
Lhanbryde, Morayshire
-
07.08.1941
[Elgin New Cemetery, section H, south division, grave 36]

Sgt.
? [759345]

P/O (prob)
17.12.1940, seniority 11.12.1940 [89587]

17.12.1940

first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

?
-
07.08.1941
observer, 20 Operational Training Unit RAF
[his Anson I [R9584 ZT-J] took off from RAF Lossiemouth for a training sortie; it is believed that the Anson's starboard engine failed, shortly before the trainer crashed at 1200 hrs onto high ground in Glen Avon, 6 miles SW of Tomintoul, a village roughly 20 miles NW of Ballater, Aberdeen]

Goldsack,
John William
J.W. Goldsack ?
-

F/Sgt.
? [509536]

(A) P/O (prob)
23.03.1944 [172701]

P/O (prob)
18.05.1944

P/O
18.11.1944

(WS) F/O
18.11.1944

F/O (Emergency List)
? (reld 17.12.1954; retaining rank of F/Lt.)

(1943?)

stationed at RAF Compton Bassett (later posted abroad) ?

23.03.1944

first commission, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch)

Goodhew,
[Sir] Victor Henry
V.H. Goodhew
Son of late Rudolph Goodhew, Mannings
Heath, Sussex.
Married 1st (1940) Sylvia Johnson (marriage dissolved); one son, one daughter.
Married 2nd (1951) Suzanne GordonBurge (marriage dissolved 1972).
Married 3rd (1972) Eva Rittinghausen (marriage dissolved 1981).

30.11.1919
-
11.10.2006

Cpl.
? [753303]

(A) P/O (prob)
31.12.1942 [135945]

P/O (prob)
03.03.1943

(WS) F/O (prob)
25.08.1943

[ (A) Sq.Ldr. ??
1945 ?? [unconfirmed]]

Education: King's College School

31.12.1942

first commission, RAFVR (Special and Administrative Duties Branch)

commanded Airborne Radar Unit, attached 6th Airborne Division

Member: Westminster City Council, 1953-1959; LCC, 1958-1961. Contested (C) Paddington North, 1955; MP (C) St Albans Div., Herts, Oct. 1959-1983. PPS to Mr C. I. Orr-Ewing, OBE, MP (when Civil Lord of the Admiralty), May 1962-1963; PPS to Hon. Thomas Galbraith, MP (Jt Parly Sec., Min. of Transport), 1963-1964; Asst Govt Whip, JuneOct. 1970; a Lord Comr, HM Treasury, 1970-1973. Member: Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, 1975-1983; Select Cttee, House of Commons Services, 1978-1983; House of Commons Commn, 1979-1983; Jt Sec. 1922 Cttee, 1979-1983; Vice-Chm., Cons. Defence Cttee, 1974-1983. Chm., Bd of Management, Inst. of Sports Medicine, 1982- (Mem., 1967-1970, 1973-1982).

Gould,
Gordon Derek
G.D. Gould
Married ((09?).1941, Portsmouth, Hampshire) Vera Aggio.
Residences: (c. 1941-1947) Portsmouth, Ireland & Malaga, Spain.
1919 ?
-

Ldg.Acm.
? [1602709]

P/O (prob)
10.12.1943 [154739]

(WS) F/O
10.06.1944

(WS) F/Lt.
10.06.1945? (reld 03.10.1946; retaining rank of F/Lt.)

10.12.1943

commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

Flew for KLM post-war.

Graeme,
Dudley Brian
D.B. Graeme
Married Nita Beddoe (died 2006); ... children.
02.10.1914
Vancouver, BC, Canada
-
07.2008 still alive aged 93 at Chichester

Acm.
13.08.1940 [1284523]

Ldg.Acm.
?

P/O (prob)
18.05.1941 [66598]

P/O
18.05.1942

(WS) F/O
18.05.1942

(A) F/Lt.
?

(WS) F/Lt.
18.05.1943 (reld 30.01.1945) (demobilized 05.1945)

AFC
08.06.1944
?

Worked for the Staines, Middlesex Fire Brigade, 1939.

13.08.1940
-
24.08.1940
No. 1 Recruiting Centre RAF (Uxbridge)

24.08.1940
-
30.08.1940
No. 1 Recruiting Wing RAF (Babbacombe)

30.08.1940
-
16.11.1940
No. 4 Initial Training Wing RAF (Paignton)

16.11.1940
-
11.01.1941
No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School RAF (Weston Super Mare)

14.01.1941
-
18.05.1941
No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF (Kidlington)

18.05.1941

first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

31.05.1941
-
11.06.1941
No. 11 Group Flight Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (Heston, from 05.06.1941 Croydon)

11.06.1941
-
18.07.1944
287 Squadron RAF (Tangemere, from 10.05.1942 Ford, from 15.05.1943 Weston Super Mare)

19.07.1944
-
29.09.1944
60 Operational Training Unit RAF (High Erkell)

15.10.1944
-
14.05.1945
107 Squadron RAF (Hartford Bridge, from 01.11.1944 Cambrai/Epinoy) (flying Mosquitoes)

30.01.1945
-
14.05.1945
appointed to Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), continuing service with 107 Sqn RAF

Graham-Matheson,
John
J. Graham-Matheson (Photo courtesy of Mr David Graham-Matheson)
Married; ... children. 1902 ?
-
(09?).1957
Stafford district, Staffordshire
[age 55]

(A) P/O (prob) 27.05.1942 [121124]

P/O (prob) 16.09.1942

(WS) F/O 16.03.1943

(WS) F/Lt. 13.05.1947, seniority 01.07.1946 (emgcy list) (retd 10.02.1954)

27.05.1942 commissioned, RAFVR (Technical Branch) [emergency commission]

served some time at RAF Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and possibly also in Italy

Graves,
Richard Courtney
R.C. Graves
Married; at least one son.
?
-
1976

Sgt.
? [748763]

(A) P/O (prob)
17.08.1940 [83289]

P/O (prob)
?

P/O
17.08.1941

(WS) F/O
17.08.1941

(WS) F/Lt.
17.08.1942 (reld 1946)

17.08.1940

first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)

09.09.1940
-
13.09.1940
253 Squadron RAF

14.09.1940
-
27.09.1940
85 Squadron RAF

28.09.1940
-
29.09.1940
253 Squadron RAF
[flying from Kenley with a Hurricane I fighter [V6621] he was shot down on a patrol after combat with a Messerschmitt 109 at 16.40 hrs near Haywards Heath [slightly wounded in shoulder]]

after recovering was sent to Egypt and then onto Ceylon

± 1945

sent to British Embassy in Paris (spoke French fluently)

Green,
Howard Morley Saville
"Pat"
H.M.S. Green
Married Elizabeth-Anne Seabrook.
22.09.1920
-
c. 2002
New Zealand

Ldg.Acm.
? [1281117]

P/O (prob)
01.04.1941 [63448]

P/O
01.04.1942

(WS) F/O
01.04.1942

(WS) F/Lt.
01.04.1943

F/Lt. RAF
01.07.1946
25.02.1947, seniority 01.12.1942

Sq.Ldr. RAF
01.01.1950

W/Cdr. RAF
01.01.1956 (retd 22.09.1967)

MID
02.06.1943
?

01.04.1941

first commission RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

18.12.1945

commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [extended service]

01.07.1946

permanent commission

(1955)
-
(1957)
stationed at Malta

Green,
Neil Carne
N.C. Green 14.01.1919
-
03.2005
East Surrey district, Surrey

Sgt.
? [742406]

P/O (prob)
16.08.1941 [104438]

(WS) F/O
16.08.1942

(A) F/Lt.
?

(WS) F/Lt.
16.08.1943

DSO
09.07.1943
?

DFC
20.11.1942
*

* This officer has completed many sorties. Throughout, he has displayed great efficiency, combined with exceptional determination to complete his task successfully. In the raids on Le Creusot, Genoa and Milan he accomplished much good work. He is a skilful and determined pilot.

16.08.1941

commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

(1942)
-
(1943)
49 Squadron RAF

Grinsted,
Norman Angus
N.A. Grinsted (Photo courtesy of Mr Adrian Grinsted)
Son of Peter Angus Grinsted (1868-1948), and Ada Mary Weakford (1869-1950).
Married ((03?).1935, Uckfield district, Sussex) Mary Cecilia Starr (23.10.1905 - 12.2002); two daughters, one son. 18.03.1899
St George Hanover Square district, London
-
07.04.1969
Southwark district, London

Indian Army:

2nd Lt. 11.01.1919

Lt. 21.08.1919 (retd 06.10.1922)

RAFVR:

F/Lt. 18.09.1939 [75506]

(T) Sq.Ldr. 01.09.1942 (reld 07.09.1950)

F/Lt. 07.09.1950 (reld 07.09.1955)

11.01.1919 commissioned, Indian Army (from the Unattached List) [served 5th Royal Gurkhas]

18.09.1939 commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

07.09.1950 - 07.09.1955 commissioned RAFVR (Reconstituted Section) (Secretarial Branch)

Guinness,
Sir Algernon Arthur St Lawrence Lee;
3rd Bt, 1867
A.A.St.L.L. Guinness
Son of late Benjamin Lee Guinness and Lady Henrietta St Lawrence (died 1935), daughter of 3rd Earl of
Howth.
Succeeded uncle, 1st Baron Ardilaun in Baronetcy, 1915.
Married (10.07.1928) Winifred Mounteney, daughter of Mrs George Hall, Hamilton, Ontario; one daughter.
11.05.1883
-
26.10.1954
Cookham, Berkshire

P/O (prob)
29.07.1940 [82856]

P/O
29.07.1941

(WS) F/O
29.07.1941

(WS) F/Lt.
29.07.1942?

MID
01.01.1946
?

Education: Eton

served European War, 1914-1918 (acting Lt.Cdr. RNVR)

29.07.1940

commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch)

28 Air Sea Rescue Unit, Newhaven

Steward of the Royal Automobile Club.

Gunter,
Edward Maurice
E.M. Gunter
Son of William Hector Gunter, Rector, and Margery Gunter (née Bourne), of Aldeby, Norfolk.
(03?).1920
Winchester district, Hampshire
-
27.09.1940
(KIA) [age 20]
[Aldeby (St Mary) Churchyard, Norfolk, old portion]

Sgt.
? [748287]

P/O (prob)
17.08.1940, seniority 11.08.1940 [83988]

17.08.1940

commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

10.09.1940
-
21.09.1940
pilot, 43 Squadron RAF (Tangmere)

22.09.1940
-
27.09.1940
pilot, 501 Squadron RAF (Kenly, Kent)
[killed in combat over Sittingbourne, Kent during the Battle of Britain; his Mk 1 Hurricane fighter [V6645] was shot down by Bf 109's at 12.25 hrs., he managed to bale out, but his parachute failed to open and he fell to his death]

Gurden,
Frederick Ernest Rex
F.E.R. Gurden (Photo courtesy of Mrs Geoff Cooper)
Son of Benjamin Gurden (1888-1978), and Emily Hillyard (1889-1951).
Married ((09?).1943, Coventry district, Warwickshire) Joy Denise Wiles * (26.05.1923 -), daughter of Edward Theodore Wiles (1896-1965), and Vera Eliza Lane (1897-1985).
* Remarried (1949) Kempster. (09?).1921
Southam district, Warwickshire
-
22.12.1944
(MPK) [age 23]
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 206]

Ldg.Acm. ? [1578326]

P/O (prob) 28.05.1943 [152296]

(WS) F/O 28.11.1943

28.05.1943 commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

? - 22.12.1944 626 Squadron RAF
[Lancaster NG244 'UM-E2'. Airborne 16:23 hrs from Wickenby for an operation against Koblenz, but was obliged to turn back after the failure of the port inner engine. Approaching base, the crew were told to divert to Leeming, Yorkshire, but in the circumstances the pilot continued his approach, only to stall and crash. On impact, the Lancaster exploded.]

Gurr,
Frederick Charles
F.C. Gurr ?
-

Ldg.Acm. ? [1395803]

P/O (prob) 11.06.1943 [152416]

(WS) F/O 11.06.1944?

(WS) F/Lt. 11.06.1945 (reld 19.06.1953; on enlistment in the RNZAF)

11.06.1943 commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]

flying training in Canada, and served possibly with 83 & 582 Squadrons RAF

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