Charles Frederick Read KBE CB DFC (1918 - 2014)

Born 9 Oct 1918 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Betty Elsie (Bradshaw) Read — married 1 Jun 1946 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 17 Sep 2014 at age 95 in Woolgoolga, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Charles Read KBE CB DFC is Notable.

Air Marshal Sir Charles Read KBE CB DFC AFC was a decorated and senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 1972 to 1975.

Charles Read KBE CB DFC was born in New South Wales, Australia

Charles Frederick Read was born on 9th October 1918 in Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia. He was the only child of Joseph Read and Ethel Shelton. ^[1] The family settled in Vaucluse. After attending Rose Bay Primary and Cleveland Street High Schools, he completed his secondary education at Sydney Grammar School. During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, his father Joseph lost his job as an accountant with Buckingham's department store and his mother, a live-in nurse and then the primary 'bread winner', was often away from home. After leaving school in 1935, Charles worked briefly with Stack & Company, a Pontiac dealership on York Street, and then with the Clifford Love organisation, selling Uncle Tobys Oats. ^[2]

Charles Read KBE CB DFC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1937-1975
Chief of the Air Staff

After working briefly as a clerk in a motoring firm, Charles joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an air cadet on 21st July 1937. ^[3] He underwent instruction at No.1 Flying Training School in Point Cook, Victoria, and gained his commission as a Pilot Officer in June 1938. Home for the next two years was No.3 and No.22 Squadrons, at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales. By the time Australia declared war on 3rd September 1939, he had been promoted to Flying Officer. ^[2]

During the Second World War, Charles served in the South West Pacific Theatre, North Western Area Campaign and Battle of Labuan, with No.31 Squadron, North West Area Command, No.1 Service Flying Training School, No.77 Wing and Headquarters the Australian First Tactical Air Force; culminating with the rank of Wing Commander. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1943 ^[4][5] and Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry) in 1945. ^[6][7] Charles was presented his DFC at Government House Melbourne on 21st April 1944 by the Governor of Victoria. ^[5]

Charles married Betty Bradshaw on 1st June 1946 in Sydney. ^[8] They had first met some years earlier when Betty was serving with the WRAAF in New Lambton, in Newcastle. ^[2] The couple subsequently had three sons.

Promoted to Group Captain, Charles commanded No.82 Wing at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, from February 1957 to July 1960. He was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) in the 1960 New Year Honours ^[9] and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1964 New Year Honours. ^[10] In December 1964 he was promoted to Air Commodore, attending Imperial Defence College in London, the following year. He was appointed Officer Commanding RAAF Base Point Cook in January 1966, simultaneously holding the appointment of Commandant of RAAF Academy. He then served as Officer Commanding RAAF Base Richmond from March 1968 to July 1969. ^[2]

Charles was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) in January 1970. In 1972, he was promoted to Air Marshal and began a three-year tour as the Air Force's senior officer. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours. ^[11]

He retired from military life on 20th March 1975 ^[3] and, in 1976, was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). ^[12]

Charles and Betty later retired to Safety Beach, on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. ^[2] Aged 95 years and having been widowed for nine years, Charles passed away on 17th September 2014 in Woolgoolga and District Retirement Village, Woolgoolga. His ashes are placed in Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Coffs Harbour. ^[13] He was survived by sons and daughters-in-law Peter & Jill, Ian and Phillip & Jenny, and grandchildren Georgina, William, Genevieve, Kew, Millie, Lucy and Emily. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #45207/1918; registered at Woollahra
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Read, Ian. 'RAAF commander Sir Charles Read led squadron in World War II'. Sydney Morning Herald, 27 Sep 2014; accessed 19 Jul 2023
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: O367 (220) Air Marshal Charles Frederick Read; accessed 19 Jul 2023
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: DFC; accessed 19 Jul 2023
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): DFC; accessed 19 Jul 2023
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Mentioned in Despatches; accessed 19 Jul 2023
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mentioned in Despatches; accessed 19 Jul 2023
8. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #9051/1946
9. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: AFC; accessed 19 Jul 2023
10. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: CBE; accessed 19 Jul 2023
11. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: CB; accessed 19 Jul 2023
12. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: KBE; accessed 19 Jul 2023
13. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald; accessed 19 Jul 2023

See also

• Wikipedia: Charles Read; accessed 19 Jul 2023.