CB OBE MC Air Vice Marshal, AOC, No 22 (Army Co-Operation) Group, Royal Air Force. Died 23/10/1940. Age 47.

​

Charles was born 26th October 1893 in Kamptee, Maharashtra, India, the eldest of three children from the second marriage of Major Charles Hubert Blount to Mary Elizabeth Bell. His sister Catherine was born in 1897 & younger brother John Hillier in 1899. Their father Charles Hubert Blount died of dysentery while serving in the Boer War - Wynberg, South Africa 23rd February 1900. His elder half brother Greville Hubert Blount, serving as Captain in the Royal Field Artillery was killed in action 23rd September 1914. His younger brother John Hillier Blount serving as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force was killed when his plane crashed 6th July 1918. Their mother Mary lived at Wadgate Cottage, Princes Road, Felixstowe for a number of years, Charles was also living there in 1911. Charles became an accomplished cricketer whilst at school & went on to play for the Combined Services & Royal Air Force cricket teams, he is recorded on the Roll of Honour at Lord's.

 

Charles married Beatrice Joan Lempriere at Kensington in 1918. They went on to have two children John Hubert Lempriere Blount born in 24 November 1919 & Christopher Charles Blount born in 1925. Both sons joined the Royal Air Force, John who had reached Flying Officer became a prisoner of war in Germany in 1941 after his plane crashed, he went on to become a Wing Commander. He was tragically killed, along with three others, when a helicopter he was on during a Queen's flight lost a rotor blade. Christopher became a Squadron Leader and was awarded the MVO.

​

Charles attended Sandhurst after leaving school and joined the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment as Second Lieutenant in 1913. In 1916 he became a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps. He was awarded the Military Cross 14 November 1916 and later the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor. His Air Force career progressed through the next 20 years until in 1939 he was appointed Air Vice Marshall and then as Air Officer Commanding of the air component of the British Expeditionary Forces. After the Battle of France (May 1940) he resumed his position of AOC No. 22 (Army Co-Operation) Group. He was appointed Companion of the Bath in July 1940. During a flight from Hendon Aerodrome to Belfast for a meeting with the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland his plane crashed near the airfield shortly after take off, all except one were killed. He died three days before his 47th birthday on 23rd October 1940. He is buried at Essendon (St Mary) Churchyard, Hertfordshire