Name
William Arthur Grove
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/05/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27344
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS BRITISH CEMETERY
11.A.9
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St. Thomas’ Church Memorial, West Hyde
Pre War
William was born in West Hyde on the 26th of August 1883 and baptised there on the 7th of October. His parents were William Henry and Charlotte Ellen (nee Andrews)Grove. His father was a Cement Labourer and in 1891 he and his family were living Pleasant Place, Rickmansworth. In 1901 they were still there, with four children and a Lodger, their address now being 9 Pleasant Place, Yes, Rickmansworth Rural, and William age 17, being identified as a Watercress Labourer. William was still living with his parents in 1911 with Pleasant Place now being placed in West Hyde.
In 1912 William married Emily Underwood in Hendon and a son, James William, was born in 1913. A daughter, Margaret, was born and died in 1915, and a son, Edward Thomas, born in 1916. Emily married Thomas A Baker in 1922 and it is believed they emigrated to New Zealand a little later and had two children there John c1923, Nancy c1924.
Recorded as enlisting in Harefield.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war 2nd Battalion was in Egypt but returned to England in October 1914.
They landed Le Havre in November 1914 joining 24th Brigade 23rd Division, and over the next three and a half years saw numerous actions on the Western Front.
William died at the Battle of Aisne 27th of May to the 6th of June 1918. On the 24th of May the Battalion took over the front line trenches in front of Juvincourt. The 25th was spent improving the trenches and on the 26th warning was received of a pending German attack. About 1am on the 27th a heavy bombardment, including gas shells, began and continued for four hours. In the ensuing infantry attack the Battalion was virtually overwhelmed suffering very severe casualties.
The War Diary covering the next four days is incomplete, part of the page having been torn off, but it is clear that the Battalion remained under attack.
Acknowledgments
P Szelewski. Mike Collins
