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#2095, Raphael (Raph) Chevallier PRESTON
| Born | 1892 in The Moorings, Athlone, West Meath, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Died | 1972 in General Hospital, Bedford, Bedfordshire |
| Father | John PRESTON (1851 - 1907) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Edith Isabella Maria CHEVALLIER (21 Feb 1858 - 1940) |
After schooling in Ireland and at Marlborough College, Raphael joined the Royal Engineers in 1914 and served with the cable section of the Signals in France and at Gallipoli. He transferred to RFC and learned to fly in Heliopolis, Egypt making his first solo flight on 28th April 1917. Subsequently he joined National Flying Services and in 1934 became personal pilot firstly to Mary, Duchess of Bedford until her death in 1937 and then to the Marquis of Londonderry. By 1940 he had joined the Accident Investigation Branch and in 1960 was appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation and was High Sheriff of Co Down in 1961.
Within the family he was known as Raf or Uncle Raf (he greatly disliked being called Ralph) which was particularly appropriate as he became one of the first members of the RAF when it emerged from the RFC.
Timeline
Born
Death of Father, John PRESTON
Married Margaret Matthew WELLS
Birth of Son, John Chevallier PRESTON
Birth of Daughter, Pauline Chevallier PRESTON
Birth of Daughter, Margaret Chevallier PRESTON
Birth of Daughter, Ann Chevallier PRESTON
Death of Mother, Edith Isabella Maria CHEVALLIER
Death of wife, Margaret Matthew WELLS
Married Mary Edmund Sides TURNER-BROWN in St Peter's Church, Belsize, London
Birth of Daughter, Lee Chevallier PRESTON
Birth of Son, Patrick Chevallier PRESTON
Death of Daughter, Pauline Chevallier PRESTON
Death of Son, John Chevallier PRESTON
Died 1972