Name
Julian Henry Francis Grenfell (DSO)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/05/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line (inc. Yeomanry & Imperial Camel Corps)
1st (Royal) Dragoons
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Distinguished Service Order
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
II. A. 18.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Birch Green Village Memorial, Birch Green School, Birch Green, Hertingfordbury Village Memorial, Church of St Mary and St John Church Roll of Honour, Hertingfordbury, Hertford Town Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Roll of Honour, Hertford, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Hertford, We are not aware of any memorial in Panshanger
Pre War
Born in St James’ London on 30th March 1888 eldest son of Lord (William Henry) Desborough, K,C.V.C. and Lady (Ethel Anne Priscilla) Desborough of Taplow Court, Taplow, Bucks., and Panshanger, Hertford. His mother was Lady of the Bed Chamber to Her Majesty The Queen.
Educated at Summer Fields School in Oxford, Eton and Balliol College, Oxford.
He ran the Steeplechase at Oxford and rowed in the college crew and a member of the Belsize Boxing Club, but his chief sport was shooting.
He was gazetted as Second Lieutenant, 1st Dragoons on 15th seprember1909, promoted to Lieutenant 6th October 1911.
Wartime Service
He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 7th October 1914, He was mentioned in Field Marshall Sir John French's Despatch of 20th November 1914 to 14th January 1915 for gallant conduct in the field and awarded a D.S.O. Gazetted 29 Dec 1914. Gazette Issue 29024. “His Majesty the King has been graciously please to approve the appointment of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition of their services with the Expeditionary Force, specified below:- On the 17th November he succeeded in reaching a point behind the enemy's trenches and making an excellent reconnaissance, furnishing early information of a pending attack by the enemy”. He was promoted to temporary Captain on 15th November 1914 and confirmed to full Captain in 31st January 1915.
He was injured on 13 May 1915 by a shrapnel wound to the head while reconnoitring near Ypres. He was taken to hospital where he died 13 days later with his mother, father & sister by his bedside.
Julian wrote a poem "Into Battle" which appeared in the Times and seems to have been highly regarded by Sir W Raleigh, Professor of English literature at Oxford.
Additional Information
Brother of The Hon Gerald William Grenfell died 30 Jul 1915 and is also listed on these memorials. His cousins Captain F Grenfell VC and Captain R N Grenfell were also killed in action.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson
Malcolm Lennox, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Grenfell buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk
