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2nd Lieutenant Francis Henry GRIGSON
B Company, 9th (Service) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment Date of birth: 1st October 1890 Date of death: 9th August 1915 Killed in action aged 24 Commemorated on the Helles Memorial Panel 35 to 37
Francis Henry Grigson was born at Watton in Norfolk on the 1st of October 1890 the only son of Henry Francis Grigson, an accountant, and Gertrude Alma (nee Cooper) Grigson of 177 High Street, Watton. He was christened at Watton on the 28th of October 1890. Following the early death of his parents he and his sister, Olive Maude, were brought up by their Aunt, Miss Cooper of "St Aldate", Hamilton Road, Bournemouth. He was educated at Gorse Cliff School at Boscombe in Hampshire and at Lancing College where he won an Exhibition and was in Seconds House from September 1904 to July 1908. He served as a Private in the Officer Training Corps from 1906 until leaving school. In November 1908 he went to London to study accountancy. In May 1910 he left England and went to Ceylon to engage in tea planting and in early 1913 he went to work for the firm of George Stewart and Co of Colombo. He lived at Lindenau, Colpetty in Ceylon. While in Ceylon he served as a Rifleman in the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps from January to May 1913 when he resigned due to the pressure of work on his estate leaving him unable to attend drill parades. Following the outbreak of war he re-joined the Ceylon Planters' Rifles in September 1914 and resigned in December 1914 in order to obtain a commission in the British Army. He returned from Colombo on board the SS "Herefordshire" landing at London on the 28th of December 1914. He applied for a commission in the 9th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 12th of January 1915, in an application which was supported by the Reverend Thomas W. Cook MA, Vicar of Holy Trinity and Rural Dean of Hastings who was formerly a Chaplain and Housemaster at Lancing College. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the battalion on the 1st of February 1915. He embarked with his battalion on the 24th of June 1915 at Avonmouth on board the HMAT "Royal Edward" bound for Gallipoli and arrived at Malta on the 1st of July. On the 13th of July they landed at "V Beach" at Cape Helles where they moved into the front line at Fusilier Post on the 15th. Having spent a number of periods in the front line and suffered casualties including the loss of their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Howard Palmer, to a sniper on the 26th of July, they were withdrawn and sailed to Lemnos on the 28th. On the 3rd of August they sailed from Lemnos for Gallipoli again, landing at ANZAC Cove on the 4th. On the 8th of August they took part in an attack on Koja Chemen Tepe and managed to gain the crest but most of the battalion were forced back later in the day to a position known as "The Farm"; they had suffered casualties of 4 men killed and 28 wounded. D Company remained on the crest and dug a new defensive position during the night but were forced to retire at about 3.30am on the 9th due to the rifle and machine gun fire falling on them from enemy positions above them. His sister received the following telegram dated the 14th of August 1915: - "Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut. F.H. Grigson Warwick Regt. was killed in action August 9th. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy" Details of Francis Grigson’s death were contained in a letter from one of his brother officers, Captain Agar, who wrote:- “The circumstances of his death were given to 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”. The Subaltern referred to in Agar's letter wrote:- "On the night of August 8th-9th we entrenched on the crest of the big nullah on Coja Chemen Tepe; but we were shelled and told the position was untenable by day; we were ordered to leave a few men in these trenches and come down. This we did. We were then ordered to advance again and join a Lancashire Regiment in another assault of Hill 971 (Sari Bair). We were then in a gully more or less under cover from rifle fire. I was in command of B Company to which your brother belonged, and we led off. The hill up which we advanced was very steep and covered with dense scrub about two feet high, with some open rocky patches. We climbed over some rocks out of the gully and began to advance. Owing to the nature of the ground it was impossible to go at more than a slow walk. We got about 50 yards up the hill with little difficulty, when suddenly a machine gun or guns opened fire on us from the left flank slightly in the rear. The sighting burst of their fire knocked me over and a Sergeant. Your brother was between us and unhit. It was impossible to advance further and the Company fell back into the gully. I was rather badly hit through the chest, shoulder and arm; and my servant dragged me into a clump of scrub and tried to bandage me. Several men attempted to get me in, but none reached me; and as it was useless I told them not to try. Your brother then tried to reach me safely. He lay down in the scrub beside me and we were joined by another man named Dunkeley. Grigson asked if I were badly hit and said "he's got it through the lung, where's the dressing?" He took mine from my pocket and opened it and leant forward to fix it on my shoulder. In doing so he must have raised himself a little for he was instantly shot dead. I have never seen a man killed so instantaneously; he died in less than five seconds. My servant examined him; but there was nothing he could do. I do not know where he was struck.....Two men wanted to try and bring in your brother's body, but were forbidden. I was told that the body was recovered and he was buried that night. I believe this was so as he was awfully popular with the men. This is as far as I can remember. I never lost consciousness, I think; but was rather shaken; so some details may have slipped from my memory. But I know your brother gave his life to save mine; and the least I can do is to let you know how much I and every one there admired him for it.... It is not easy for an inexperienced Subaltern like me to command a Company in such operations; and your brother's support and advice were invaluable at every difficult moment-and there were a good many. I was naturally anxious to let his people know how splendidly he died." Major Gordon wrote on the 20th of August 1915:- “I succeeded to the command of the 9th Warwicks. 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. We all send you and yours our deepest sympathy. As I was hit on the 8th (August) and sent straight away in the Hospital Ship, I cannot alas give you any details of how your brother met his death, but of this I am quite sure, he was brave and unselfish to the end “ He wrote again on the 1st of October:- “I made your brother Regimental Transport Officer whist at Helles, and he was invaluable in managing the pack mules (often under fire) and getting up our water rations etc.”

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