GROVES Alfred Edward

Mentioned in Despatches.

Appears on the Royal Air Force casualties list for Worcestershire.

Alfred Groves was educated at St Peter’s Boys School, Droitwich, gaining a scholarship to Worcester Royal Grammar School, which he attended from 1931 to 1934. On 27th May 1942 his Blenheim aircraft was reported missing after taking off from Bircham Newton, Norfolk on a meteorological flight.

Source for Royal Grammar School and Blenheim aircraft information: In Dedication to a Future World By Mark Rogers, 1999.

The following report appears in the Berrow’s Worcester Journal, Saturday 2nd January 1943:
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Groves, of 32, The Holloway, Droitwich, have been notified that, in view of the lapse of time and absence of any news concerning their son. Flight-Sergeant Alfred Edward Groves, since he was reported missing in May last, it is feared that there can be no reasonable grounds for believing that he is still alive. Inquiries are, however, to continue to be made from every available source.
Flt.-Sgt. Groves joined up in July, 1938, as a wireless operator and air-gunner, and served with his squadron in France, from shortly after the commencement of hostilities to the evacuation from Dunkirk. He was twice mentioned in dispatches, once while in France and again in December, 1941, while serving with a meteorological flight. He was educated at St. Peter’s Boys’ School, Droitwich, and gained a scholarship to Worcester Royal Grammar School. He was apprenticed to the Droitwich Gas Works as a fitter.
His eldest brother, Albert Henry is serving with the Military Police and his younger brother, Ronald William, is an electrician in the R.A.F.
Their father, a member of an old Bredon family, is Master of the Coventry Charity Hospital. He served with the Worcestershire Regiment for 18 years, joining in 1892 at the age of 13 years and 11 months. He saw service in India, Burma, Aden and South Africa. When he joined the Post Office on December 13, 1911, he served first at Tenbury, then Suckley, and later at Droitwich. In 1915 he retained the Worcestershire Regiment but was later posted to the Rifle Brigade. Towards the end of 1915 he went to Egypt and served there for three years. Later he was attached to the signal section of the Royal Engineers as telegraphist. Mr. Groves holds the King’s and Queen’s South African medals, long service and good conduct medals; also the Post Office Imperial medal. He retired from the postal service on October 17, 1938.

A letter from a sibling of Alfred Groves, 32 The Holloway, Droitwich, dated 19th March 1952 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour. The letter states that Flight Sergeant A.E. Groves, RAF, was killed on 27th May 1942.

A letter from the Reverend W.A. Trippass, St Peter, Droitwich dated 23rd May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Alfred Edward Groves be added to the county roll of honour.

Alfred Groves has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Runnymede Memorial.