Anthony Herbert Grabham enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment, he transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps before volunteering for airborne forces in July 1943.Trooper Grabham successfully completed selection at Hardwick Hall and later qualified as a military parachutist on course 78 which ran at RAF Ringway in August 1943.

Initially posted to Holding Company, Tpr Grabham was later assigned to the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion.

After serving in Italy, Lance Corporal Grabham jumped in on Operation Dragoon in the South of France from aircraft No. 31 as a member of Support Company.

In August 1945 he commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Fusiliers.