Charles Jeffs

Major Charles Hubert Jeffs[note 1] MC (b. 11 July 1895) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

Charles Hubert Jeffs
Born(1895-07-11)11 July 1895
Holton-le-Clay, Lincolnshire, England
DiedUnknown
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
 Royal Air Force
Years of service1916–1949
RankMajor
UnitBorder Regiment
No. 56 Squadron RFC
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
World War II
AwardsMilitary Cross

Military service

Jeffs was trained in the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps. On 8 June 1916 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation)[2] in the 5th Battalion, Border Regiment, Territorial Force. He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, trained as a pilot, and was appointed a flying officer on 14 June 1917.[3]

Jeffs was posted to No. 56 Squadron RFC on 18 August 1917. Only four days later, he scored his first kill, flying Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a No. B524 to destroy an Albatros D.V. In the same aircraft, he tallied four more wins, with the last one coming on 29 September; shared with fellow ace Gerald J. C. Maxwell and five other pilots. On 5 October, Jeffs fell beneath the guns of Bruno Loerzer as the German's eleventh victim. Jeffs survived, but was captured.[4] On 8 December 1917, while a prisoner, Jeffs was promoted to lieutenant in the Border Regiment.[5]

Jeffs was held as a POW until after the armistice in November 1918, then returned to Royal Air Force service, until transferred to the unemployed list on 19 October 1919.[6] On 7 July 1920 Jeffs relinquished his RAF commission, and returned to serve in the 5th Bn., Border Regiment.[7][8]

Jeffs served in the Border Regiment during the Second World War with the war substantive rank of captain. On 12 March 1949, having exceeded the age limit, he relinquished his army commission, and was granted the honorary rank of major.[9]

Jeffs, alongside two other men of the same surname, is listed on the "Roll of Honour" — men from the village who served in the First World War — at St. Peter's Church, Holton-le-Clay.[10]

Notes
  1. Listed in some sources as Charles Hugh Jeffs.

References
Citations
  1. "Charles Hubert Jeffs". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. "No. 29621". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1916. p. 5833.
  3. "No. 30171". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 July 1917. p. 6796.
  4. Shores et.al. (1990), p.210.
  5. "No. 30463". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 1918. p. 468.
  6. "No. 31632". The London Gazette. 7 November 1919. p. 13547.
  7. "No. 32043". The London Gazette. 7 September 1920. p. 9057.
  8. "No. 32059". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1920. p. 9432.
  9. "No. 38557". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 March 1949. p. 1260.
  10. "GENUKI: Holton le Clay, Lincolnshire". genuki.org.uk. 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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