Graham Richard Dawson Tait – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Daedalus

Leading Aircraftman Graham Richard Dawson Tait – Royal Navy, H.M.S. Daedalus

Birth and Family Background

Charles Henry Tait and Beatrice Payne Dew
marriage certificate
Cathedral Church, Bangor

Graham Richard Dawson Tait was born in 1920 at Mumbles. He was the son of Charles Henry Tait and Beatrice Payne Dew, who were married in 1911 at the Cathedral Church, Bangor.

Early Life

1921 Census

The 1921 Census records the Tait family residing at 30 Kings Road, Mumbles. Charles Henry Tait, aged 42 and born in Liverpool, was employed as a railway manager with the London & North Western Railway, based at Victoria Station, Swansea. His wife Beatrice, aged 35 and born in Caernarvonshire, undertook the household duties. Their only child, Graham, was aged 10 months. Also present in the household was a servant, Margaret Stewart, aged 35.

Civilian Incident and Intended Service

South Wales Daily Post

In September 1940, the South Wales Daily Post reported that Graham Tait, then a medical student, appeared before the court charged with driving his father’s car without consent. He was disqualified from driving for twelve months in civil life and ordered to pay costs. The article noted that he was expected to join the Fleet Air Arm.

Naval Service

Graham subsequently enlisted in the Royal Navy and joined the Fleet Air Arm, serving aboard HMS Daedalus. He held the rank of Leading Aircraftman and was undergoing flying training.

The Training Accident of 10^th December 1940

On 10^th December 1940, Britain was in the midst of an intense period of wartime flying activity. Despite the end of the main phase of the Battle of Britain earlier in the autumn, flying training continued at maximum intensity, as operational losses and the rapid expansion of aircrew requirements placed sustained pressure on training establishments.

At this stage of the war, Fleet Air Arm aircrew, although under Royal Navy administration, were frequently trained at RAF stations, using RAF aircraft and instructors. This was particularly true for elementary and basic flying training, where airspace congestion and the need for rapid pilot throughput significantly increased the risk of accidents.

Aircraft Involved

Miles Magister I

The collision involved two training aircraft. One was a Miles Magister I, flown by Leading Aircraftman Graham Richard Dawson Tait, a Fleet Air Arm trainee attached to H.M.S. Daedalus. The other was a de Havilland Tiger Moth, aircraft BB738, operated by No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School.

Both aircraft types were widely used for initial pilot training. They were light and relatively slow aircraft, often flown within designated training areas, but at times sharing congested airspace with multiple other aircraft conducting circuits, navigation exercises, or formation flying.

Location and Nature of the Collision

The collision occurred over St Albans, Hertfordshire, an area frequently overflown by training aircraft operating from RAF Luton and nearby training schools. Weather conditions in December 1940 were often poor or marginal, with low cloud, haze, and reduced winter daylight further increasing the hazards faced by trainee pilots.

On 10^th December 1940, while engaged in a training flight, the two aircraft collided in mid-air, resulting in the loss of Leading Aircraftman Graham Richard Dawson Tait.

Reporting, Burial and Official Record

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records

South Wales Daily Post

The South Wales Daily Post reported Graham’s death in December 1940, informing the local community of the loss of a young naval airman during training. His death is formally recorded in the British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records.

Graham Richard Dawson Tait
Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans
credit - fidnagrave

Leading Aircraftman Graham Richard Dawson Tait is buried at Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans