Royal Field Artillery
Born: 6th May 1918.
Story
Jack Graves was the son of Robert Harold Graves (1887-1919) of Kirkstall, and Mary Elizabeth Firth (1888-1962) from Kippax. Jack’s parents married in Leeds in 1910, and they lived at 1 Durno Street, Kirkstall. Robert was a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War, under service number 222867. On 4th April 1919, Robert died of pneumonia in the East Leeds Military Hospital, which used to be the Leeds Union Workhouse, and is now the Thackray Medical Museum. Robert was buried at St Stephen’s Churchyard, Kirkstall. His son Jack was one month short of his first birthday, so never knew his father. After the death of her husband, Mary moved back to Kippax, and lived at 17 Cliff Crescent. She had suffered a double bereavement, as her older brother Arthur Firth had also been killed during the War in France on 22nd July 1916.
In April 1941, after leading the 3rd Division out of Dunkirk, Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL, (1887-1976, pictured below in a Grant tank in North Africa, November 1942) became commander of XII Corps responsible for the defence of Kent, which was soon extended to Sussex and Surrey. During this period Jack Graves was Montgomery’s Batman, acting as his runner to convey the Field Marshall’s orders to his subordinates; maintaining his uniform and personal equipment as a valet; and driving Montgomery’s vehicle. Montgomery took command on 13 August 1942 of the Eighth Army, and fought Rommel in the North African deserts, and he employed other Batman, however Jack’s War took him to the same locations. Whilst serving in Libya and Egypt, he met his neighbour, Walter Bellwood, who lived a few doors away at 26 Cliff Crescent, and they kept up with the Kippax news by sharing a copy of the Skyrack Express.
On 1st September 1944, it was reported that Jack was ill in an Italian hospital. He returned to Kippax and married Ethel Grimshaw in 1940, and had a daughter Marlene in 1946. Jack passed away on 21st July 1991 aged 73, and is buried in Kippax.
<< Albert & Jack Prince Fewster
Kippax Roll of Honour 