Part 87

=GRIERSON, SIR JAMES MONCRIEFF, K.C.B., C.V.O., C.M.G.=, Lieut.-Gen., R.A., eldest _s._ of the late George Moncrieff Grierson, of Glasgow, by his wife, Allison, dau. of George Lyon Walker, of Garemount, Dumbartonshire; _b._ Glasgow, 27 Jan. 1859; educ. Glasgow Academy, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted Lieut., R.A., 9 Oct. 1877, and promoted Capt. 20 Jan. 1886; Major 11 Dec. 1895; Brevet Lieut.-Col. 12 Dec. 1895; Brevet Col. 1 March, 1900; Col. 28 Oct. 1901; Major-Gen. 12 Feb. 1904, and Lieut.-Gen. 6 May, 1910; was D.A.Q.M.G., Indian Contingent, Expeditionary Force, Egypt, 9 Aug. to 17 Oct. 1882; on special service with the Expeditionary Force, Suakim, 20 Feb. to 5 March, 1885; D.A.A. and Q.M.G., Egypt, 6 March to 12 June, 1885; Station Staff Officer, 1st Class, Bengal, 17 Feb. to 7 July, 1889; D.A.A.G. (Intel.) H.Q. of Army, 1 July, 1890, to 14 July, 1894; Brigade Major, R.A., Aldershot, 1 Jan. 1895 to 19 Feb. 1896; Military Attaché, Berlin, 1 March, 1896, to 2 Feb. 1900; on special service, South Africa, 3 Feb. to 27 Feb. 1900; A.A.G. South Africa, 28 Feb. to 23 Aug. 1900; Staff Officer (graded D.A.G.), China, 24 Aug. 1900 to 21 Oct. 1901; A.Q.M.G., II Army Corps, 28 Oct. 1901 to 3 Sept. 1902; Chief Staff Officer (Brig.-Gen. on Staff), II Army Corps, 4 Sept. 1902 to 11 Feb. 1904; Director of Military operations, Army H.Q., 12 Feb. 1904 to 5 Oct. 1906; Major-Gen., 1st Division, Aldershot Army Corps, and G.O.C., 1st Division, Aldershot Command, 6 Oct. 1906, to 6 Aug. 1910, and G.O. Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, 4 April, 1912, to Aug. 1914; Hon. Col., 2nd London Brigade, R.F.A., 1912–14; A.D.C. Gen. to H.M. the King, 1 July, 1914, and Commander of the 2nd Army Corps of the Expeditionary Force in France, Aug. 1914; created M.V.O. (4th Class), 23 Nov. 1899; C.B., 29 Nov. 1900; C.M.G., 26 June, 1902; C.V.O., 1 July, 1904; and K.C.B., 19 June, 1911; served in Egyptian War, 1882; took part in action at Kassassin 9 Sept., and Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 2 Nov. 1882]; medal with clasp; Khedive’s Bronze Star; 5th Class Medjidie); with Sudan Expedition, 1885; took part in actions at Hasheen, and on 26 March, and advance on Tamai (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 25 Aug. 1885]; clasp); with Hazara Expedition, 1888; was D.A.Q.M.G., 2nd Brigade (mentioned in Despatches; medal with clasp; Brevet of Lieut.-Col.); in South African War, 1899–1900; took part in operations in Orange Free State, Feb. to May, 1900. including actions at Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Vet River (5–6 May), and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900; including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July-16 Aug. 1900 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]; Queen’s medal with four clasps); in China, 1900; including service as British Military representative on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces (medal, C.B.); and died on active service, of heart failure, while travelling in a train in France, 17 Aug. 1914; _unm._ Gen. Grierson made a reputation with the 3rd and 4th Divisions at manœuvres. During the manœuvres in Cambridgeshire in 1912, he so concealed the 4th Division that it remained entirely lost so far as the opposing side was concerned, until it developed its fighting line in action on a flank. The Division made a long march, and when hostile aircraft came near it the troops halted and took shelter in woods, ravines and hedges, remaining perfectly still. The guns and wagons were covered with sheets, hay, straw, and so on, and the aircraft failed to discover the presence of the force. He was again complimented by Sir John French on those in Northamptonshire in 1913. He was the author of many works on Military subjects, including “Armed Strengths of Armies of Russia, Germany and Japan,” published by the War Office; “Staff Duties in the Field,” “Handbooks of the Russian Army,” and “Records of the Scottish Volunteers, 1859–1908.”

=GRIEVE, WILLIAM PERCIVAL=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regt.), yst. _s._ of William Grieve, of 13, Fenchurch Avenue, London, and Rockcliffe, Dalbeattie, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of the late Rev. George Hodgkinson, of Louth; _b._ Croydon, 11 Nov. 1885; educ. St. Andrew’s School, Eastbourne, Cheltenham College, and Edinburgh University. On the outbreak of war he joined the 2nd King Edward’s Horse as a Trooper, received a commission in the 5th Middlesex Special Reserve, 14 Nov. 1914, and was transferred from that battn. to the 3rd Middlesex; served in France and Flanders, and was killed in action near Ypres, 14 Feb. 1915; _unm._

=GRIFFIN, ERNEST JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class S.S. 111025, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=GRIFFITH, THOMAS FRANCIS=, Gunner, R.M.A., 9569, R.F.R., B. 1266, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=GRIFFITH, JOHN GWYNNE=, Major, 32nd Lancers, Indian Army, and Brigade Major, 9th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd _s._ of the late Lieut.-Col. John Gilbert Erskine Griffith, of Fairfield House, Cheltenham, and Hodges, Jamaica, by his wife, Fanny Augusta (Newland, Coleford, Gloucester), dau. of George Harrison; _b._ Taraghur, Ajmere, India, 23 June, 1874; educ. Stubbington House School, and Dulwich College; joined the 3rd Militia Battn. South Wales Borderers in 1893; gazetted from it 2nd Lieut. to the Unattached List, Indian Army, 28 Nov. 1894; served his year with the 2nd Durham L.I. at Poona, and then was posted to the Indian Staff Corps, 2nd Bombay Lancers, 24 Feb. 1896, and promoted Lieut. 28 Feb. 1897; Capt. 28 Nov. 1903; and Major 28 Nov. 1912. He was successively on plague duty, Bombay; officiating Inspecting Officer, Imperial Service Cavalry, Kathiawar, and Military Attaché, Bombay Command H.Q., and was one of the eight senior subalterns selected for service in South Africa, and was temporary Capt. commanding 63rd Imperial Yeomanry from 1 Jan. to 23 March, 1902. He took part in the operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, and was awarded the Queen’s medal with four clasps, and then returned to India and resumed his post as Military Attaché for another year. He was then S.S.O., Nasirobad; Officiating Brigade Major, Kamptee, for nine months; S.S.O. and Cantonment Magistrate, Pachmahri, for a year; Brigade Major, Jubbulpore, 23 Feb. 1906 to 14 Feb. 1909; and then passed through the Staff College, Quetta. In 1911 he went to Australia for two years and acted as Director of Military Training on the Headquarters Staff, Melbourne, and was so successful that the Australian Government asked for an extension of his services, which was granted for another year. The Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, writing to his widow on hearing of his death, said: “Major Griffith’s extensive military knowledge, his capacity and soldierly attributes, combined with his charming personality, provided an inspiring example and earned him the respect of all ranks of the Australian Army”; and Gen. Kirkpatrick and Major-Gen. Chauvel both expressed their high appreciation of his services to the Commonwealth during the critical period of Australian Military development. He returned to India in 1913, and was home on leave when war broke out. He joined the 7th Cavalry Reserve at Tidworth, and on 18 Oct. was gazetted D.A.A. and Q.M.G., 2nd Cavalry Division, becoming Brigade Major, 9th Cavalry Brigade, by special request of the General Officer Commanding; went to France, 20 Oct. 1914, and was killed instantaneously, S.E. of Ypres, 24 May, 1915, while giving orders to his Brigade. Gen. Greenly wrote: “He was a brave, good soldier, an unfailing cheery companion, and the kindliest and most sympathetic of friends, the sort of English gentleman who has made the Empire what it is,” and added, “the loss to me is not only that of a perfectly invaluable staff officer, but of a very great friend, with whom I have been associated now, as you know, for a very considerable time, both on the staff together of the 2nd Cav. Div. and in this Brigade. On active service one gets to know one’s friends in a few months or sometimes even days in a way which years of peace would never bring. I can only say that in these months of sometimes hard and strenuous time I have got to know and value and love your husband in a way which it is difficult to convey to you”; and a brother officer: “The old regt. fairly bursts with pride even when we are saddest. I never saw anything like the feeling shown by the Indians, they all loved Johnnie, even as we all looked forward to the day when he got command. What a wonderful C.O. he would have made.]” Major Griffith was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He _m._ at Cheltenham, 15 June, 1899, Florence Ethel (29, Park Place, Cheltenham), dau. of the late Major George Anthony Aufrère Baker, 6th Bengal Cavalry; _s.p._

=GRIFFITHS, ALLEN RHYS=, 2nd Lieut., 53rd Battery, R.F.A., elder _s._ of Llewellyn Edward Griffiths, of Great Abshot House, Titchfield, formerly of Drayton Park, Longparish, by his wife, Bertha Mina, dau. of Thomas Allen Hickley, of Walton-on-Thames; _b._ Rookley House, King’s Somborne, Hants, 15 March, 1893; educ. Horris Hill, Newbury; and Winchester College; was a tea planter in Ceylon when war broke out, but came home immediately and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in Dec. 1914; was given a commission, being gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. 27 Feb., 1915; went to France early in July, and was killed in action near Ypres, 9 Aug. 1915; _unm._

=GRIFFITHS, BASIL GWYNNE=, Sergt., No. 41567, 56th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, _s._ of Isaac Griffiths, D.C.M., Quartermaster-Sergt. (W.O.), Welsh Regt. (who served in the Boer War, with the South Wales Borderers, and was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal), by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of Martin Walsh, of Kilrane, co. Wexford, Farmer; _b._ Aldershot, 16 Jan. 1892; educ. Intermediate School and Christ’s College, Brecon; enlisted in Jan. 1906; was promoted Sergt., Aug. 1914; went to France, Aug. 1914, and was killed in the fighting around Hooge, near Ypres, 3 Nov. 1914; _unm._ Major B. Crozier, commanding 56th Battery, R.F.A., wrote: “He was killed while in charge of his gun ... and was buried by his comrades the same evening, at the same spot as three other men of his battery, at the edge of a wood about 800 yards south of the village of Ekstenest. I served with him previously in the 47th Battery and had a great regard for him. He did well while out here and will be a great loss to the battery, which he served so well. He was always so cheery and helped to cheer many when depressed.” Sergt. Griffiths was an expert “Rough-Rider,” swimmer and boxer.

=GRIFFITHS, GEORGE HENRY WHITMORE=, Private, No. 12946, 25th Battn. Royal Fusiliers Frontiersmen, eldest _s._ of the late George Summers Griffiths, Barrister-at-Law, Middle Temple, by his wife, Emma Lucy, dau. of the late Henry H. Cowper, H.M.’s Consul-General at Havanah, and grandson of the late Lewis Griffiths, of Marl Hill, Cheltenham, J.P.; _b._ Handsworth, near Birmingham; educ. Whitby, and Stamford Grammar Schools; at the age of thirteen went to sea as an apprentice in the Merchant Service, and when the South African War broke out joined the 18th Hussars and served through that campaign. He was awarded the Queen’s medal with five clasps, and on his return married and settled down in Wiltshire. When the European War started he immediately tried to rejoin his old regt., but finding that it already contained its full complement he enlisted in the 25th Fusilier Frontiersmen. He was killed in action at the Battle of Bukoba, German East Africa, 22 June, 1915. He had volunteered for a dangerous duty which he fulfilled at the cost of his own life, thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades. Gen. T. wrote: “It will be a consolation to you all to know that he died in such a gallant way.... The War Office ruled some time ago that no posthumous honours, except the V.C. were to be granted during this war, so that many gallant men, including your brave brother, are ineligible for posthumous D.C.Ms. Should at any time the rule be revised, I will remember what your gallant brother did for his country”; and Col. D.: “His company held an advanced position close up to the enemy; they were suffering loss from a machine gun posted on a small hill. Several men volunteered to work round and try to silence this gun. Griffiths was the first to volunteer. The bravery and dash of these volunteers was beyond all praise, but unfortunately most of them were either killed or wounded whilst successfully carrying out what they started to do. They saved many lives of their comrades. He and other brave comrades were buried in Bukoba alongside the Fort, with full military honours. We have marked the spot.” He _m._ at Lavington, Wiltshire, 8 Oct. 1906, Alice Riddell (Down View, West Lavington, Wilts), dau. of Edwin Burgess, of St. John’s Wood, London, Artist, and had two sons: George Edwin, _b._ 10 July, 1907, and John Whitmore, _b._ 15 May, 1913.

=GRIGSON, FRANCIS HENRY=, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., only _s._ of the late Henry Francis Grigson, of Watton, Norfolk, Accountant, by his wife, Gertrude Alma, dau. of William Cooper, of Bury St. Edmunds, M.D.; _b._ Watton, co. Norfolk, 1 Oct. 1890; educ. Gorse Cliff School, Boscombe, Hants, and Lancing College, Sussex; and on leaving there went to London in Nov. 1908, to learn accountancy. In May, 1910, he went to Ceylon, where he spent several years tea planting, and in the early part of 1913 joined the firm of George Steuart & Co., of Colombo. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he gave up his post with them and returned to England at the end of the year. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 9th Warwickshires, 1 Feb. 1915; left for the Dardanelles on 19 June, and was killed in action at Anzac Cove, 9 Aug. 1915, during the fighting for Hill 971 (Sari Bair); _unm._ One of his officers, Major Gordon, wrote (20 Aug.): “I feel I cannot resist writing to tell you how sadly we all (such as survive) feel the loss of your brother. He was most popular with officers and men alike and was such a capable officer”; and again (Oct. 1): “I made your brother Regimental Transport Officer whilst at Helles, and he was invaluable in managing the pack mules (often under fire) and getting up our water, rations, etc.”; and another (Capt. Agar): “The circumstances of his death were given me by another of my subalterns who had charge of the company after I was ‘knocked out.’ They had been ordered to advance up a hill, which could only be done in single file; the subaltern in charge led the way, when they suddenly came under a heavy fire from machine guns, which made further progress impossible. The subaltern in charge ordered the company down the hill under cover, and whilst doing so was himself badly wounded and left behind. When the men had got back under cover, your brother and the wounded officer’s servant crawled up again and tried to bring him in; they bandaged him up as best they could, when your brother was hit and instantly killed. There is no doubt that if he had not been killed he would have been rewarded for his gallant action.”

=GRIFFITHS, JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9826), 207832, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=GRIFFITHS, WALTER HENRY=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./17349, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=GRIMBLE, WALTER=, E.R.A., 2nd Class, 271598, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=GRIMSHAW, CECIL THOMAS WRIGLEY=, B.A., D.S.O., Major, 1st Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 6th _s._ of the late Thomas Wrigley Grimshaw, C.B., M.D., M.A., Registrar-General for Ireland, by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (The Lodge, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire); _b._ Dublin, 22 Oct. 1876; educ. Eastmans’ School, Southsea, and Trinity College, Dublin (B.A.); joined the 5th (Militia) Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers in Dec. 1893, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 15 May, 1897, and promoted Lieut., 28 Dec. 1898; Capt., 14 July, 1904; and Major, 14 Dec. 1914. He served through the South African War, 1899–1902, being employed with the Mounted Infantry, and was present at the action at Talana and took part in the operations east of Pretoria, July-Nov. 1900, and in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. He was twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901, and 29 July, 1902], and was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps, and the Distinguished Service Order. In 1903 he took part in the operations in the Aden Hinterland, and on 11 Dec. 1911, was appointed Adjutant of his Battn. He left England with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 15 March, 1915, took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action the same day at Sedh-el-Bahr, being at the time in command, the Colonel, Adjutant and other officers having been shot in the boats. He was shot in the head while leading the remnants of the regt. in a charge up the hill. He _m._ at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington, 3 Oct. 1906, Agnes Violet (Hawera, Dunsford, Surrey), dau. of George Benton Alderson, of Alexandria, and had three children: Thomas Cecil, _b._ 6 July, 1907; George Cecil, _b._ 8 Sept. 1910; and David Cecil, _b._ 13 Oct. 1915.

=GRIST, ROBERT GEORGE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 3397), 191485, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=GROMETT, CHARLES=, Sergt., No. 8713, 1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., 2nd _s._ of Charles Gromett, by his wife, Sarah (Bridge Street, Downham, Market), dau. of Michael Walsh; _b._ Downham Market, co. Norfolk, 26 June, 1888; educ. there; enlisted 22 Oct. 1907; became Sergt. 20 Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, 6 Sept.; was wounded in the thigh at the Battle of the Aisne, 20 Sept., and died 26 Sept. 1914, at St. Nazaire Hospital. He _m._ at St. Mary’s Church, Beverley, co. Yorks, 1 Dec. 1913, Edith (2, Victoria Villas, Queens Gate Road, Beverley), yst. dau. of the late George Marshall Cobb; _s.p._

=GROOM, WILLIAM SYDNEY=, Acting Chief Petty Officer, 165578, H.M.S. Hawke; _s._ of Charles Groom, of 58, Prospect Place, Woolwich; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=GROOME, FRANK=, Private, No. 221, 17th Battn. 5th Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of Frederick Groome, of 7, Queen’s Avenue, Watford West, Herts, Printer, by his wife, Mary Ann Elizabeth, dau. of William Saunders, of Walthamstow, Essex, Bricklayer, and grandson of John Groome, of the City of London, Cordwainer; _b._ Upper Sydenham, S.E., 21 March, 1895; educ. Sydenham Hill Council School; began life as an assistant at Mudie’s Library and later was assistant operator at the Watford Cinema; emigrated to Australia, 21 March, 1914, and became a farm hand to Mr. John Paton, of Mundarloo, Tumblong. After the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, Feb. 1915; was drafted to Egypt, and from there to the Dardanelles, where he was severely wounded in the head by a bomb; he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital, Cairo, 9 Sept. 1915, and died there 6 Oct. following; _unm._

=GROOME, STANLEY GEORGE=, Corpl., No. 207, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of William Groome, of 317, Bethnal Green Road, E., Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of George William Wilcox; _b._ London, 10 Feb. 1888; educ. Sir John Cass Foundation School, Minories; was on the Stock Exchange, but on the outbreak of war threw up his position and enlisted in the London Rifle Brigade, 31 Aug. 1914. He went to France on 13 Jan. 1915, and during the spring and summer of 1915 was with his company in the trenches at Plugsteert, St. Eloi, Ypres and Poperinghe. In the autumn of the same year he worked on the lines of communication and it was on returning to the trenches for the first time that he was accidentally shot at Poperinghe, 3 Dec. 1915. He was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery close to the main line between Hazebrouck and Poperinghe. An iron cross sent out from England, subscribed for by the men of his old platoon, and engraved “In memory of a good comrade,” marks the spot. Capt. C. W. Trevelyan, London Rifle Brigade, wrote: “I visited the grave, and when Sergt. Ford came back from leave he took out and placed on the grave a very nice iron cross as a small tribute of affection from some of the members of No. 4 Platoon. We all felt that we had lost one of our best and most trusted friends.” Groome was a good athlete, and was a member of the Leytonstone Rugby and the Albion Rowing Clubs. He was a great lover of Nature and all Nature’s gifts.

=GROVES, FRANCIS NEVILLE=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. Monmouthshire Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of John Francis Groves, of 5, Llanthewy Road, Newport, Monmouth, F.R.I.B.A., Architect to Lord Tredegar, by his wife, Frances Matilda, dau. of Albert Gill, of Blandford; _b._ Newport, Monmouth, 7 July, 1889; educ. Intermediate School there; obtained his commission in the 3rd Battn. Monmouthshire Regt., 9 Sept. 1914, joining it at Northampton and afterwards going to Cambridge. He was promoted Lieut., 23 Nov. 1914, and in Feb. 1915, was sent with his regt. to Flanders, and was killed in action at Frezenberg, near Ypres, 8 May, 1915; _unm._ The division in which the Monmouthshire Regt. was placed assisted very materially in defeating the furious attack of the German forces on 8 and 9 May, in which all battns. of the regt. suffered so heavily. Major W. S. Bridges, now Lieut.-Col., the senior officer left after the battle, wrote that he met his death whilst holding, with his company, a trench under the most terrific shell fire, and in a letter to his father, said: “I did not know him for long, only since my joining the battn., but long enough to have realised his value as an officer and that he had a high opinion of his sense of duty.” Col. H. Worsley Gough, who was wounded early in the action, stated that he fell doing his duty very gallantly, and that he could not speak too highly of his work as an officer of his battn., and that his untimely death was a great loss to the regt. and was deeply deplored by all who were privileged to serve with him.

=GROVES, GEORGE=, Private, No. 9432, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots, _s._ of George Groves, Office Porter, H.M. Office of Works, Windsor Castle, by his wife, Fanny, dau. of Henry Deaton, of Eton; _b._ Clewer, near Windsor, 12 March, 1888; educ. Windsor National School; enlisted 22 Nov. 1904; served 10 years; went to France, 12 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Petit Bois, near Kemmel, France, 14 Dec. 1914; _unm._

=GROVES, GEORGE=, Leading Seaman, 211975, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.