Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Booknd was killed instantaneously, S.E. of Ypres, 24 May, 1915, while giving orders to his Brigade. Gen. Greenly wrote: "He was a brave, good soldier, an unfailing cheery companion, and the kindliest and most sympathetic of friends, the sort of English gentleman who has made the Empire what it is," and added, "the loss to me is not only that of a perfectly invaluable staff officer, but of a very great friend, with whom I have been associated now, as you know, for a very considerable time, both on the staff together of the 2nd Cav. Div. and in this Brigade. On active service one gets to know one's friends in a few months or sometimes even days in a way which years of peace would never bring. I can only say that in these months of sometimes hard and strenuous time I have got to know and value and love your husband in a way which it is difficult to convey to you"; and a brother officer: "The old regt. fairly bursts with pride even when we are saddest. I never saw anything like the feeling shown by the Indians, they all loved Johnnie, even as we all looked forward to the day when he got command. What a wonderful C.O. he would have made.]" Major Griffith was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French's Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He _m._ at Cheltenham, 15 June, 1899, Florence Ethel (29, Park Place, Cheltenham), dau. of the late Major George Anthony Aufrère Baker, 6th Bengal Cavalry; _s.p._ [Illustration: =John Gwynne Griffith.=] =GRIFFITHS, ALLEN RHYS=, 2nd Lieut., 53rd Battery, R.F.A., elder _s._ of Llewellyn Edward Griffiths, of Great Abshot House, Titchfield, formerly of Drayton Park, Longparish, by his wife, Bertha Mina, dau. of Thomas Allen Hickley, of Walton-on-Thames; _b._ Rookley House, King's Somborne, Hants, 15 March, 1893; educ. Horris Hill, Newbury; and Winchester College; was a tea planter in Ceylon when war broke out, but came home immediately and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in Dec. 1914; was given a commission, being gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. 27 Feb., 1915; went to France early in July, and was killed in action near Ypres, 9 Aug. 1915; _unm._ [Illustration: =Allen Rhys Griffiths.=] =GRIFFITHS, BASIL GWYNNE=, Sergt., No. 41567, 56th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, _s._ of Isaac Griffiths, D.C.M., Quartermaster-Sergt. (W.O.), Welsh Regt. (who served in the Boer War, with the South Wales Borderers, and was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal), by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of Martin Walsh, of Kilrane, co. Wexford, Farmer; _b._ Aldershot, 16 Jan. 1892; educ. Intermediate School and Christ's College, Brecon; enlisted in Jan. 1906; was promoted Sergt., Aug. 1914; went to France, Aug. 1914, and was killed in the fighting around Hooge, near Ypres, 3 Nov. 1914; _unm._ Major B. Crozier, commanding 56th Battery, R.F.A., wrote: "He was killed while in charge of his gun ... and was buried by his comrades the same evening, at the same spot as three other men of his battery, at the edge of a wood about 800 yards south of the village of Ekstenest. I served with him previously in the 47th Battery and had a great regard for him. He did well while out here and will be a great loss to the battery, which he served so well. He was always so cheery and helped to cheer many when depressed." Sergt. Griffiths was an expert "Rough-Rider," swimmer and boxer. [Illustration: =Basil Gwynne Griffiths.=] =GRIFFITHS, GEORGE HENRY WHITMORE=, Private, No. 12946, 25th Battn. Royal Fusiliers Frontiersmen, eldest _s._ of the late George Summers Griffiths, Barrister-at-Law, Middle Temple, by his wife, Emma Lucy, dau. of the late Henry H. Cowper, H.M.'s Consul-General at Havanah, and grandson of the late Lewis Griffiths, of Marl Hill, Cheltenham, J.P.; _b._ Handsworth, near Birmingham; educ. Whitby, and Stamford Grammar Schools; at the age of thirteen went to sea as an apprentice in the Merchant Service, and when the South African War broke out joined the 18th Hussars and served through that campaign. He was awarded the Queen's medal with five clasps, and on his return married and settled down in Wiltshire. When the European War started he immediately tried to rejoin his old regt., but finding that it already contained its full complement he enlisted in the 25th Fusilier Frontiersmen. He was killed in action at the Battle of Bukoba, German East Africa, 22 June, 1915. He had volunteered for a dangerous duty which he fulfilled at the cost of his own life, thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades. Gen. T. wrote: "It will be a consolation to you all to know that he died in such a gallant way.... The War Office ruled some time ago that no posthumous honours, except the V.C. were to be granted during this war, so that many gallant men, including your brave brother, are ineligible for posthumous D.C.Ms. Should at any time the rule be revised, I will remember what your gallant brother did for his country"; and Col. D.: "His company held an advanced position close up to the enemy; they were suffering loss from a machine gun posted on a small hill. Several men volunteered to work round and try to silence this gun. Griffiths was the first to volunteer. The bravery and dash of these volunteers was beyond all praise, but unfortunately most of them were either killed or wounded whilst successfully carrying out what they started to do. They saved many lives of their comrades. He and other brave comrades were buried in Bukoba alongside the Fort, with full military honours. We have marked the spot." He _m._ at Lavington, Wiltshire, 8 Oct. 1906, Alice Riddell (Down View, West Lavington, Wilts), dau. of Edwin Burgess, of St. John's Wood, London, Artist, and had two sons: George Edwin, _b._ 10 July, 1907, and John Whitmore, _b._ 15 May, 1913. [Illustration: =George H. W. Griffiths.=] =GRIGSON, FRANCIS HENRY=, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., only _s._ of the late Henry Francis Grigson, of Watton, Norfolk, Accountant, by his wife, Gertrude Alma, dau. of William Cooper, of Bury St. Edmunds, M.D.; _b._ Watton, co. Norfolk, 1 Oct. 1890; educ. Gorse Cliff School, Boscombe, Hants, and Lancing College, Sussex; and on leaving there went to London in Nov. 1908, to learn accountancy. In May, 1910, he went to Ceylon, where he spent several years tea planting, and in the early part of 1913 joined the firm of George Steuart & Co., of Colombo. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he gave up his post with them and returned to England at the end of the year. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 9th Warwickshires, 1 Feb. 1915; left for the Dardanelles on 19 June, and was killed in action at Anzac Cove, 9 Aug. 1915, during the fighting for Hill 971 (Sari Bair); _unm._ One of his officers, Major Gordon, wrote (20 Aug.): "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"; and a |