19 Facts About Percy Groves

Percy Groves campaigned for substantial reform of Britain's approach to air strategy following the First World War, in particular for an immediate expansion of the RAF to parity with the largest European force within striking distance.

Percy Groves was an advocate of the aerial "knock out blow": the possibility of ending a war in its early stages by launching a massive attack on the enemy's centres of gravity.

Percy Robert Clifford Groves was born on 26 May 1878 at Rai Bareli, India.

Percy Groves was the eldest son of Joseph Groves who served as Commissioner of Railways for the United Provinces in India.

Percy Groves served with the 2nd battalion of his regiment in the Second Boer War, and was promoted to lieutenant on 9 March 1901.

Percy Groves was employed with the West African Regiment and was Territorial Adjutant.

Percy Groves did much active flying in the Dardanelles.

Percy Groves was then Britain's Air Ministry Representative at the Paris Peace Conference and British air adviser to the Supreme Council and the Conference of Ambassadors.

Percy Groves retired from active service in 1922 with the rank of brigadier general.

Percy Groves's opinions attracted the interest of Viscount Northcliffe and in 1922 a series of articles on "Our Future in the Air" were published in The Times.

Percy Groves remained a forceful campaigner for an immediate expansion of the RAF to parity with the largest European force within striking distance.

In 1939 Percy Groves returned to active service being made Deputy Director of Intelligence at the Air Ministry with the rank of air commodore, a position he held until April 1940.

Percy Groves was then seconded to the Foreign Office before being demobilised in 1946.

Percy Groves was a colleague of Frederick Sykes and Viscount Trenchard, who both influenced his early military thinking.

Percy Groves was engaged in lengthy correspondence with Sir Basil Liddell Hart.

In terms of his military thinking, Percy Groves was a proponent of the aerial "knock out blow": the possibility of ending a war in its early stages by launching a massive attack on the enemy's centres of gravity.

Percy Groves was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1918, a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1919 and a Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1920.

Percy Groves was an Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Hon.

Percy Groves was group captain and honorary air commodore, RAFVR, September 1939.