Brian Bentley Graves

Lieutenant

Conflict:

WW2

Additional Information:

Son of Horace Ivatt Graves and Daisy Graves, of Wellington City, New Zealand.

References:

CWGC

NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

In Titahi Bay is a street named Brian Close.

It is named after 1813 Lieutenant Brian Bentley Graves – F Troop, 26th Battery, 5th Field Regiment, NZ Artillery killed in action 29th July 1944.

Brian Bentley Graves was born in Wellington on 14th January 1918 the youngest son of Daisy (nee Greenwood) and Horace Ivatt Graves.

Brian was raised in Wellington and went to Wellington College where he served four years in the cadets and following college, served in the Territorial 8th Battery, NZ Artillery.

After the declaration of war on 1st September 1939 Brian was quick to enlist, signing enlistment forms two weeks later and entered camp on 14th October 1939. The 21 year old single man listed his occupation as a clerk for Dalgety’s Limited, Palmerston North and his next of kin as his father Mr H I Graves, Karori, Wellington. Brian also states that he was living in Palmerston North on enlistment.

1st June 1941 Gunner Graves was appointed to Lance Bombardier. He would have seen service in Egypt and then Greece and Crete. Lance Bombardier Graves’ military files were purged in 1949 so his promotion through the ranks and nomination for officer training are not available. Lance Bombardier Graves was selected for officer training as his records note him as a first a 2nd Lt and then a Lieutenant on 28th February 1942.

Considering many of the early enlistment servicemen had seen active service for three years a scheme, ‘Waikatipu’, allowed first echelon men to have a three month furlough in New Zealand and Lt Graves returned to New Zealand on 21st October 1943.

Following his leave, Lt Graves, now an experienced combat officer, undertook training new reinforcements. He left again for overseas service on 31st March 1944. Following his arrival in Egypt, Lieutenant Graves was shipped to Italy.

‘Lieutenant Graves was killed on 29 July 1944 at San Michele, south of Florence. Graves was the newly-appointed commander of F Troop and was being taken by Major Carson forward to the OP when a shell struck the scout car and killed both Lieutenant Graves and Gunner I.H. Henry.

[ Porirua War Stories. Retrieved 25/3/2022]

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Casualty

Service Number:

1813

Name:

Brian Bentley Graves

Rank:

Lieutenant

Date of Birth:

14 January 1918

Place of Birth:

Wellington, New Zealand

Next of Kin:

Mr H.I. Graves (father), 60 Aurora Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Enlistment Address:

47 Stanley Avenue, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Occupation on Enlistment:

Clerk

Unit:

New Zealand Artillery, 5 Field Regiment

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

29 July 1944

Day of Death:

Saturday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF)

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Florence War Cemetery

Cemetery Reference:

VII. C. 8.

Cemetery Location:

Italy