Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

- Completed by Grant High School

Robert Garfield Grivell was born in Stirling, South Australia, on the 12th of January 1924 (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 640), to parents Walter and Edna Grivell. He was the eldest of four children, his siblings being Avis June, Barbara Elaine, and Peter Desmond, born in 1927, 1928, and 1931 respectively (Creedy et al., n.d., pp. 128-129). As the eldest child, he held a lot of responsibility to support his parents, and show his siblings right from wrong, morals that he upheld. At age 6, he was a part of the 1930 Junior Class at Verdun Primary School, as pictured below (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 602), his family residing in the small Adelaide Hills town (Raebel, 2024). Robert then went to school in Mount Barker for a year, before dropping out at around the age of 14/15 (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441).

Robert’s family did not see furthering his education as a vital aspect of his life. He began working in the family business – the Verdun General Store and Post Office. The store was at the heart of the Grivell family, not only attached to their family home but also an integral part of the Adelaide Hills community (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441).

At 16 years of age, Robert leased a property from the Rollbusch Family in Oakbank. The land was situated near the banks of the Onkaparinga River and was used for mixed farming. Bob rode his bike to and from the farm each day to work (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441). A couple of years later in 1942, Bob enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce to support efforts in the second World War.

On the 22nd of August 1942, while on leave from aircrew training, at just 18 years of age, he married Thelma Dulcie Grivell (1919-1998, born Sandow) at the Mack Memorial Church in Verdun, South Australia (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 129). Robert was then posted to Benalla, Victoria in February 1943 for aircrew training, Thelma moving interstate with him. Robert and Thelma became the proud parents of Verelle Alison Grivell, born on the 12th of December 1943, in Benalla, Victoria (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 129), meaning Bob was not there for her birth. As Robert departed for the shores of Europe in August of 1943, Verelle was only known by photos. Thelma and Verelle then relocated to Verdun to be closer to family.

Young and brave, Robert enlisted at just 18, demonstrating his courage. He enlisted on the 9th of June 1942 in Adelaide, South Australia. This wasn’t a surprise to the Grivell family, Robert was never afraid of hard work and always gave his all. He had spent hours upon hours learning Morse code even before reaching the enlistment age of 18, striving to reach his dream of being in the RAAF (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441).

As documented in The Evolution of the Grivells, Robert’s details at the time of his enlistment were as follows (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 640);

Enlistment age: 18 years and 4 months
Height: 5’ 11”
Weight: 154lbs
Eyes: Brown
Complexion: Dark
Hair: Black
Religion: Methodist

Posted to Shepparton after his enlistment in June 1942, he began his aircrew training. Shortly after, he was posted to the nearby town of Benalla, graduating as a pilot in February 1943. It was there where Thelma decided to relocate to be closer to Robert, Benalla becoming the birthplace of their one and only child; Verelle Grivell in December 1943 (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441).

Robert received his flying badge on the 28th of July 1943 (NAA, 2025). After completing the strenuous 14 months of training, including the relocation of his young family, it was rather rewarding for Robert to leave his rank of Pilot Officer behind, and successfully be named a Flying Officer (Australian War Memorial, 2025). Robert departed overseas on the 11th of August 1943 (Aircrew Remembered, 2014).

His training however wasn’t over yet. Robert continued with weeks upon weeks of aircrew training in the USA and Canada, focusing on bomber pilot training. Finally, making his way to England after his months of hard work and determination, Robert Garfield Grivell was officially a part of the No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441). The Squadron named after the modern day Ghana Governor who adopted the military unit in July of 1941 (Fuller, n.d.). His operation training was further completed while with the Squadron (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441).

The Squadron had a great history, stemming from WW1, as well as reconnecting in 1936, becoming one of the few bomber squadrons to serve continuously through wars against Nazi Germany (Virtual War Memorial Australia, n.d.). During Robert’s involvement in WW2, he took part in seven operations (Creedy et al., n.d., p. 441). The first few being with Stirling four-engine bombers, which the Squadron had been equipped with since December 1941. It was then in 1944 where the group made the switch to Lancasters, the aircraft Robert flew his last few missions (Virtual War Memorial Australia, n.d.). 

Little did Bob know the night of a new year would be his final battle.

Unfortunately, Robert Garfield Grivell never met his daughter Verelle, having passed away during the War just shy of being 21 years old (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2025).

The circumstances of his death were devastating, with six others losing their lives alongside him in an aircraft tragedy. On the first night of a new year, in 1945, Lancaster PB768 took flight from RAF Chedburgh at 1606 hours, with the flight’s mission to bomb railway yards at Vohwinkel. After the flight failed to return to base, it was clear that something had gone wrong. At 21,000 feet, Lancaster PB768 was struck by anti-aircraft fire and sustained damage, ultimately causing the engine to stop. When bound for home, flying over Namur, the aircraft took further damage by American anti-aircraft fire. This caused the entire port side to become alight. The order to bail out was given, and the aircraft fell to the ground at Emines in the Belgian province of Namur, 11 kms southeast of Gembloux. Only one crew member survived, the other six including Robert Grivell perished (Raebel, 2024).

Robert is commemorated on The Roll of Honour at the National War Memorial in Canberra, which aims to record members of the Australian Armed Forces who have died as a result of their war service. His name is located in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial on Panel 123 (Australian War Memorial, 2025). In honour of Robert’s dedication to serving his nation, he is commemorated at several other locations. These include the Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial and the Verdun Roll of Honour Memorial (Virtual War Memorial Australia, n.d.).

Robert Grivell was buried in the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery in Belgium, in a joint grave - VIII. D. 19-20. His headstone reads: "I'LL WALK BESIDE THEE" THELMA AND VERELLE (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2025).

Interestingly, Robert's wife Thelma initially received Robert’s Certificate of Death with the incorrect date, the 2nd of January 1945. After records were finalised, it was found that his correct date of death was the 1st of January 1945. This occurrence only added to the stress Thelma and the extended Grivell family faced at this devastating time (National Archives of Australia, 2025).

References:

Aircrew Remembered. (2014, August 17). Archive Report: Allied Forces. Aircrew Remembered. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://aircrewremembered.com/grivell-robert.html
Australian War Memorial. (2025). Robert Garfield Grivell. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved August 27, 2025, from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1701765
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. (2025). ROBERT GARFIELD GRIVELL. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2109672/robert-garfield-grivell/
Creedy, R., Barton, M., & McDonald, H. (n.d.). The Evolution of the Grivells. Openbook Howden Print & Design.
Department of Veterans' Affairs. (2025, July 11). World War Two Service. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1049344&c=WW2
Fuller, C. (n.d.). The History. BK716. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://bk716.their-story.org/the-history-of-218?activeArticle=the-history
Mapcustomizer.com. (n.d.). Mapcustomizer.com: Create a map. Retrieved August 27, 2025, from https://www.mapcustomizer.com/
NAA. (2025). National Archives of Australia Records Search. Home page | naa.gov.au. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.naa.gov.au/
No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron. (n.d.). No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1936-1945 - History. No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://218squadron.wordpress.com/history/
Raebel, G. (2024, September 15). Robert Garfield Grivell RAAF (1924). WikiTree. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Grivell-38
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.). No. 218 Squadron (RAF). Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/822
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.). Robert Garfield GRIVELL. Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/511636

Additional primary resources:

Grivell, M 2025, Interview by Carey Grivell, Mount Gambier, 14, August.