Robert Marsland Groves

For other people named Robert Groves, see Robert Groves (disambiguation).
Robert Marsland Groves

Groves as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
Born 1880
Lancashire, England
Died 27 May 1920 (aged 39 or 40)
Heliopolis, Egypt[1]
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
 Royal Air Force
Years of service 1899–1920
Rank Air Commodore
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Air Force Cross
Legion of Honour (France)
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)[2]

Air Commodore Robert Marsland Groves CB DSO AFC RAF (born in 1880, died 27 May 1920) was a Royal Navy officer involved with naval aviation during World War I. He was awarded his Aviator's Certificate no. 969 on 15 November 1914. After transferring to the Royal Air Force in 1918, he served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and held high command in the Middle East. He was killed in a flying accident in 1920 aged 40 whilst serving in Egypt.

Early life

Robert Marsland Groves was born in 1880, the son of James Grimble Groves, the brewer and Conservative MP.[3] Robert Groves was educated at Rossall School. He joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in the 1890s, rising to sub-lieutenant by the summer of 1899 and then lieutenant in February 1900.[4] In the early years of the 20th century Groves was an officer on HMS Vernon.[4]

Groves was promoted to commander on 22 June 1911 and the following year on 26 November 1912, he was appointed Flag Commander to the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean on HMS Inflexible.[4] He served in World War I as Assistant Director of the Air Department at the Admiralty and then as Officer Commanding No. 1 Squadron RNAS before returning to the Admiralty to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Board.[4]

After the War he became Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Director of Operations and Intelligence.[4] He went on to be Acting Air Officer Commanding RAF Middle East Area in 1919 and Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group in 1920.[4]

Awards and decorations

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order:

Commander Robert Marsland Groves,. R.N. (Wing Commander, R.N.A.S.). In recognition of his services in command of a Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service at Dunkirk. Commander Groves has by his personal skill as a pilot, and also by his untiring zeal, effected a marked advancement in the general standard of flying on active service. He has on several occasions carried out successful reconnaissances to Ostend under fire, and by his own example has proved the utility and great importance of night flying."[5]

References

  1. ^ In memoriam Flight International, 10 January 1920
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31691. p. 15614. 16 December 1919.
  3. ^ Items Flight International, 3 March 1921
  4. ^ a b c d e f Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Commodore R M Groves
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29635. p. 6211. 22 June 1916.
Military offices
Preceded by
M E F Kerr		 Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
1918		 Succeeded by
O Swann
Preceded by
O Swann
Only as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff		 Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
and Director of Operations and Intelligence
February 1919 – 8 September 1919		 Succeeded by
J M Steel
New title
Formed by renaming Training Brigade (Middle East)
 Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group
16 March – 27 May 1920		 Succeeded by
O Swann