Name
Neville Griffin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/10/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
2218
London Regiment *1
1st/16th (County of London) Bn.
'D' Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POTIJZE BURIAL GROUND CEMETERY
Row W, Grave 12.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Arthur William and Ellen (nee NEWTON) GRIFFIN of Watford.
His parents married 3 November 1891 at St Matthew’s, Ashford, Middx. Arthur died 28 January 1927 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 1 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Ellen died 22 May 1934 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 25 May, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Neville was born 15 May 1893 in Watford. He attended first Sotheron Road Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 15 January to 7 December 1900; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 1 January 1901 to 5 December 1904; finally Watford Grammar School from March 1905 to December 1908. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a draper’s shop assistant aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Westminster August 1914; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 1 November 1914; his surname was amended from GRIFFEN to GRIFFIN 21 January 1920.
He was killed in action.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads: “GRIFFIN, NEVILLE. School period: March, 1905, to December, 1908. Rifleman, Queen's Westminster Rifles. Killed in action in France, 11th October, 1915.”
There is an article about Neville in the Watford Illustrated dated 30 October 1915; also an article and a Death Announcement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 23 October 1915; plus a Grammar School In Memoriam in the issue dated 25 December 1915. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Unfortunately, Neville’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
