Name
Lionel Smart Grove
07/12/1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/05/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22034
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 50 to 52.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is Commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Lionel Smart Grove was born in Watford, Herts, on 7th December 1896, son of Walter Grove (B 1863 in Amersham, Bucks) an Auctioneer and Elizabeth Annie Grove (nee Smart), (B 1867 in Aldgate, London, who had four children. Lionel was the only one who survived.
His parents married 28 September 1891 at All Saints, Paddington, London. Walter died 15 February 1913 in Oxhey, Herts, aged 49, and was buried 20 February at St James’, Bushey, Herts
1901 Census records Lionel aged 4, Living with his parents and sister Gladys 1, at 66 Gladstone Road, Watford, Herts. (His sister Gladys died in 1907).
In September 1909, he entered Watford Boys Grammar School on a Fullers Scholarship, leaving in December 1912, aged 16.
By 1911 the family had moved to 133 Lower Paddock Road, Oxhey. His father Walter now gave his occupation as an estate agent and Lionel, aged 15, was a pupil at Watford Boys’ Grammar School.
There is an entry in The British Postal Appointments Book for November 1912, which records Lionel’s appointment as a Boy Clerk, at Mount Pleasant, London.
His father Walter died in February 1913, aged 49.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and enlisted in Holborn, London, W. C.
Wartime Service
Lionel enlisted in Holborn, London, posted to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with the Service No. 22034.
His Medal Card records he arrived in France on 3rd December 1915. Lionel was killed in action at Fromelles on 8th May 1916. He has no known grave and is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial in France, panel 50 -52.
He is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey, where his name appears as GROVES, L. and in the Watford Boys Grammar School Book of Remembrance.
Lionel was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“GROVE, LIONEL SMART. School period: September, 1909, to December, 1912. Private, 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action at Fromelles, 8th May, 1916.”
The value of his effects were £8-6s-5d, Pay Owing and £6, War Gratuity which went to Miss Edith Miriam Franklin.
Additional Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
