CWGC thanks Noonans Mayfair Ltd for this story.

Walter Crawford Grimes served during the Second World War as a wireless operator/air gunner, initially with 103 Squadron, flying Wellingtons. He started operational duties with the Squadron on 12 June 1941 with an attack on Osnabruck. Between June and the end of September 1941, when he finished his tour, he flew on 28 operational sorties with targets including Brest harbour (three times), Duisburg (twice), Cologne (five times), Bremen, Frankfurt (four times), Hamburg (five times), Mannheim (twice) and Berlin.

Transferring to 218 Squadron, flying Stirlings, Walter began his second tour of operations on 29 May 1942 with an attack on Borkum, followed by participation in the 1,000 Bomber Raid on Cologne the following night. Between June and the beginning of November 1942, when he finished the tour, Walter flew on 25 operational sorties with targets including Essen (three times), Bremen (five times), St. Nazaire, Lubeck, Duisburg, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Lubeck, Keil, Cologne and, on 19 September 1942, Munich.

It was on the Munich sortie that his aircraft was hit by intense flak, the 2nd pilot and engineer being wounded and the navigator bailing out. Walter dressed the wounds of the injured crew and took over as deputy navigator. It was for this action, as well as previous good work over his two tours, that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

The original D.F.M. recommendation in the London Gazette of 12 January 1943 states:

‘Flight Sergeant Grimes, W. C., is a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron. Between June 1941 and November 1942 he carried out as many as 53 operational sorties embracing 299 hours of operational flying. During his two tours he has always displayed courage and technical skill of a very high order. On 24 July 1941, his aircraft was flying in formation with two other Wellingtons during a daylight raid on the German Battleships in Brest Harbour. The formation was attacked by two Me.109s. Although one of the Wellingtons was lost in the first attack, the combined fire of the remaining aircraft was sufficient to drive off one of the German machines and to shoot the other down in flames. In September 1942, on the return from Munich, Flight Sergeant Grimes’ aircraft was subjected to very accurate and very intense flak. The aircraft was hit, the 2nd Pilot and Engineer slightly wounded, while the Navigator, mistaking an order to “Stand By”, actually baled out. Flight Sergeant Grimes dressed the 2nd Pilot’s wounds and acted with him as deputy Navigator. On reaching the French coast, wireless navigation became possible and Flight Sergeant Grimes was able to direct his Captain who landed safely at Manston. Flight Sergeant Grimes’ keenness, resolution, and technical adroitness are held in very high regard by the other Wireless Operators, to whom he never fails to give the benefit of his knowledge and experience. He is very strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.M.’

Walter was then rested in a training post and subsequently returned for his third tour, this one with with 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron. On 11 November 1943, Walter’s Lancaster was one of eleven aircraft detailed to attack the Antheor Viaduct again, using a new gyro bomb sight with 12,000lb High Capacity thin walled ‘Tall Boy’ bombs. Flying on afterwards to Blida Airfield in North Africa, Walter and his crew were scheduled to return to the UK on 17/18 November, flying over the Bay of Biscay. Their aircraft, Lancaster ED735, piloted by Flight Lieutenant E. E. G. Youseman D.F.C. and crewed by a very experienced crew containing four D.F.M. recipients, was lost without trace, having probably fallen victim to enemy fighters over the Bay.

Walter and his crewmates are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Walter's medals were sent to his father, also called Walter Crawford Grimes, who served during the Great War in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.