Cecil Graves facts for kids
Captain Sir Cecil George Graves (born March 4, 1892 – died January 12, 1957) was an important leader at the BBC. He served as a joint Director-General with Robert Foot from 1942 to 1943.
Early Life and Education
Cecil George Graves was the son of Charles L. Graves and Alice Grey. His mother's eldest brother was Viscount Grey of Fallodon, a well-known figure. Cecil went to Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. After that, he studied at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which trains army officers.
Military and BBC Career
Sir Cecil Graves began his career in the military. In 1911, he joined the Royal Scots regiment after graduating from Sandhurst. He served with the British Army in France during World War I. He was captured by German forces on August 26, 1914. He spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany.
After the war, he worked at the War Office from 1919 to 1925. He was part of the Intelligence Branch of the Imperial General Staff. In 1925, he left the British Army.
In 1926, Graves joined the BBC as an administrator. He quickly moved up in the organization.
- From 1929 to 1932, he was the Assistant Director of Programmes.
- From 1932 to 1935, he became the Empire Service Director.
- From 1935 to 1938, he was the Controller of Programmes.
- From 1938 to 1942, he served as the Deputy Director-General.
In 1942, he became a joint Director-General of the BBC. He shared this top role with Robert Foot. Sir Cecil left the BBC in 1943 due to health reasons. After leaving the BBC, he was also a member of the Arts Council of Great Britain. He also served on the Broadcasting Council of Scotland.
Family Life
In 1921, Sir Cecil Graves married Irene Helen Bagnell. They had two sons together. Their eldest son, Michael, became a brave RAF pilot. He was a Squadron leader flying Spitfire planes.
Michael took part in the important Battle of Malta during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his bravery. He also participated in the D-Day invasion. Later, he was involved in some of the very first flights of operational jet aircraft. After the war, Michael continued to fly jets. He worked as a test pilot for companies like Rolls-Royce and Westland Aircraft. Sadly, in 1949, Michael died at the age of 28 while testing a new aircraft called the Westland Wyvern.
Honours and Awards
Sir Cecil George Graves received several important honours for his service:
- Military Cross
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (awarded in 1939)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau from the Netherlands
