Charles Warburton Meredith

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Charles Warburton Meredith KBE CB AFC (23 August 1896 – 19 April 1977) was a South African air force pilot, and Air Officer Commanding of the Rhodesian Air Training Group during the Second World War.

Air Vice-Marshal

Sir Charles Warburton Meredith

KBE CB AFC
Meredith in Salisbury during the Second World War
Born(1896-08-23)23 August 1896
Wynberg, Cape Town
Died19 April 1977(1977-04-19) (aged 80)
Allegiance British Empire
Service/branch
Years of service1917-1945
RankAir Vice-Marshal
Commands heldRhodesian Air Training Group
Wars
  • First World War
  • Second World War
AwardsAir Force Cross
Grand Commander Royal Order of the Phoenix (with swords)

Early life and family

Meredith was born in Wynberg, Cape Town and attended Wynberg Boys' High School. He was an electrical engineering student with South African Railways before becoming a cadet at RAF Staff College, Andover and was then commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) in October 1917.[1] He was promoted to Flying Officer in February 1918.[2]

After the First World War, in 1924, he joined the South African Air Force,[3] having been recruited by Major Allister Miller,[4] and in 1937 was appointed Commanding Officer of the Aircraft and Artillery Depot.[3]

He was appointed Director of Civil Aviation in Southern Rhodesia in 1939.[3]

Meredith was commissioned Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 21 March 1940 for the duration of the hostilities.[5] He was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal during the War.

Rhodesian Air Training Group

Meredith was Air Officer Commanding of the Rhodesian Air Training Group, part of the Empire Air Training Scheme. Sir Archibald Sinclair, the British Secretary of State for Air, praised the excellent quality of the reinforcements coming to the RAF from the RATG.[6]

Meredith expressed in 1943 that the Air Training Group would expand and that the expansion would be beneficial after the war for aeronautical training.[7]

Meredith is the author of an article 'The Rhodesian Air Training Group 1940-1945' in a Rhodesian historical journal, published in July 1973 [8]

Honours

Meredith was awarded the Air Force Cross in June 1919.[9]

He was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in July 1941;[10] Grand Commander of the Royal Order of the Phoenix (with swords) in 1943;[11] and Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military Division) in June 1943.[12]

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References
  1. "The British Air Services" (PDF). Flight. 25 October 1917. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. "The British Air Services" (PDF). Flight. 25 April 1918. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. "Here and There" (PDF). Flight. 29 June 1939. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  4. "A Loss to South African Aviation" (PDF). Flight. 26 October 1951. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  5. "No. 34927". The London Gazette. 20 August 1940. p. 5094.
  6. "Here and There" (PDF). Flight. 13 November 1941. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  7. "Here and There" (PDF). Flight. 23 September 1943. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  8. The Rhodesian Air Training Group 1940-1945
  9. "No. 31378". The London Gazette. 30 May 1919. p. 7034.
  10. "No. 35204". The London Gazette. 27 June 1941. p. 3742.
  11. "No. 35936". The London Gazette. 9 March 1943. p. 1190.
  12. "No. 36033". The London Gazette. 28 May 1943. p. 2419.

Further reading
  • Salt, Beryl (2001). A pride of eagles: the definitive history of the Rhodesian Air Force, 1920–1980. Covos-Day. ISBN 0620237597.
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