This is an account of my Father’s life. Many may never have heard of him, but he fought in The Battle of Britain and as one of the many who risked their lives for their country they are all famous or many of us would never have been born, let alone survived an invasion to be here today.
Charles Stavert (My Father) was called “Red” by all his family and friends and always had the enthusiasm to become a pilot since a young age.
He often told me many stories of his times at Monmouth School as a boy, he enjoyed most sports with a passion for rugby and rowing on the River Wye, close to the school.
It was when he came out of the RAF and we moved to the midlands that we camped at Monmouth and walked along the deralict railway line to Lydney. Red told me that he used to catch the train from London and used that line after long tedious journeys by steam train.
It was after he finished at Monmouth, that he joined the RAF at the age of just over 17 years of age for training at Grantham. During his training, war was declared and although the news was exciting for the young pilots of that time, Red and his comrades weren’t aware of the misery war was going to bring to everyone.
Red was to take further advance training, converting to flying Hurricanes which he found exciting and better than anything he flew previously.
He recalled one notable incident was, when he had flown off to Anglure in France on 18th May 1940 with eleven other hurricanes to replace other damaged aircraft. Red spotted a German Dornier taking off from Vraux and gave chase.
After his encounter he continued his way onto Anglure. As he approached the runway and prepared to land, he saw another German aircraft in front of him, this time a Heinkel which was landing also. Red then realized he was approaching a German Airfield, and with split second reactions shot the Heinkel down and flew away with high speed.
Red and his No 1 squadron returned to Northolt in August 1940 and took part in many skirmishes during the war flying Hurricanes and Spitfires during the Battle of Britain.
After the War Red joined 230 squadron, flying Sunderland Flying Boats. It wasn’t long until he was promoted and then gained the Air Force Cross for his skill, courage and initiative in preventing a disaster.
During a Greenland expedition for Young Sound to Britannia Lake; He carried out ten sorties to the lake as captain of aircraft under extremely hazardous flying conditions of ice, fog and snow. On one occasion, whilst at Britannia Lake, he was responsible for saving the lives of three men, one of whom was Commander C.J.W. Simpson, leader of the expedition, who had fallen into the freezing water when attempting to retrieve a crippled airborne lifeboat.
Welcome to Authspot, the spot for creative writing.
Read some stories and poems, and be sure to subscribe to our feed!
