The Airmen's Stories - P/O C M Stavert

Charles Michael Stavert was born on 10th August 1921 in Buckingham. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training course on 26th June 1939.

After completing his training, he arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge in early April 1940 and after converting to Hurricanes was posted to No. 1 Squadron in France on the 27th.

On 10th May Stavert shared in the destruction of a Me110, on the 18th he destroyed a Do17 and a He111, then ran out of fuel and made a forced-landing in a ploughed field.

On the 19th he damaged a He111. He returned to England when the squadron was withdrawn on 17th June 1940.

On 16th August Stavert claimed a He111 destroyed, on the 18th he shared a Do17, on 6th September he destroyed a Ju88 and damaged a Me109. He made his last flight with No.1 Squadron on 18th September, a patrol.

He joined 504 Squadron at Hendon on the 21st and flew his first sortie on the 24th, a patrol. On the 27th he damaged a Me110. He was still with the squadron on 2nd November 1940.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented though he remained in the RAF postwar, having married Pamela Winifred Eckett on 6th December 1945 in Richmond, Yorkshire.

Stavert was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st June 1953) and retired from the RAF on 10th August 1964 as a Squadron Leader.

He died on 20th January 2008 in Malvern, Worcestershire.

504 Squadron Exeter 1941

Sgt. Boreham, P/O Lee, Sgt. D Haywood, F/O M Rook, P/O HN Hunt, F/O Salter, Sgt. Waud, Sgt. Nurse, Sgt. Lewis

Sgt. RT Holmes, M.O. F/Lt BEG White, S/Ldr. J Sample, F/Lt. AH Rook, F/Lt. A Parsons, F/O W Barnes, F/O Clennell (Adj.)

P/O AJ McGregor, P/O CM Stavert

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November 2021 - his son, Timothy P Stavert, kindly submitted these poems:

COULD THIS BE MY DAD?

I hear a rumble in the sky
a sound of a wartime Spitfire,
flying gracefully over the rooftops
filling me with some desire.

Not just to fight for my country,
only to glide above the clouds,
to see my heroic father
among the heavenly shrouds.

Remembering the time
when he went to war
flying in the Battle of Britain
to settle the score

Now his return is only a dream
as I look up I feel quite sad
as the pilot salutes I wonder
Could this be my dad?

*******

(Herefordshire Cathedral)

WEEPING WINDOW.
So many poppies,
One for each life
Who fell so brave.
Red as blood,
Taken from every soul,
No one could save.
The window in the Cathedral tower,
Weeping for those to whom we pray,
Whom gave their lives for peace.
The blood red poppies,
Trailing down the Cathedral wall,
The memories from this war will never cease.
For we will remember those brave souls,
We will remember, we will remember

******