He was born as Jacob Goldstein on 9 February 1910 in Hampstead, London to Marcus Goldstein and Constance nee King and he had two sisters Estelle and Sheila. The 1911 census lists Jacob staying with his mother and sister Estelle with his mother’s family in Hampstead. His grandfather Jacob King was a licenced victualler and the family were wealthy enough to employ five servants.

By 1920 the family were using the surname Grant. In 1939, the Grant family were living at 237 Elgin Avenue, Paddington where Marcus worked as a wine and spirit merchant. Jacob was living at 20 Greencroft Gardens, Hampstead and is listed as a clerk and having enlisted in the RAFVR in 1937 as a pilot. He was called up in 1941 and trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. Jacob was awarded the DFC on 20 July 1942 for which the reasons are unknown to date.

Lancaster EE130 departed from RAF Coningsby at 00.01 on 15 September 1943 on an operation to bomb the Dortmund Ems canal. They had tried the previous night but had to abort the operation. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed near Bergeshovede killing all the crew who are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

Pilot, Ralf Athelsie Pole Allsebrook, 62267
Nav, Norman Arthur Botting, 51975
A/G, Samuel Hitchen, 647480
A/G, Ivor Glyn Jones, 1054939
A/B, Reginald Bertram Sidney Lulham, 1271876
F/E, Phillip Moore 570619
A/G, William Walker, 1371707