Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Private C. Gridley, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front, 12 September 1918, having already been wounded in action on two previous occasions

1914-15 Star (12287 Pte C. Gridley, Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (12287 Pte. C. Gridley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Gridley); Memorial Scroll (Pte. Charles Gridley Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) last mounted on card, with named enclosures for all medals, nearly extremely fine

Three: Sergeant W. E. Gridley, 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry, who died as a result of gas poisoning received at the Battle of St. Julien, 24 April 1915

1914-15 Star (27285 Sjt. W. E. Gridley. 15/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (27285 Sjt. W. E. Gridley 15-Can. Inf.); Memorial Plaque (William Ernest Gridley); Memorial Scroll (Serjt. William Ernest Gridley Canadian Infantry Bn.) last mounted on card, nearly extremely fine (lot) £400-£500

Charles Edward Gridley was born in Slough, Berkshire, and was the son of Mr and Mrs. W. J. Gridley of 55 Hencroft Street, Berkshire. The Slough and Windsor Express, 28 September 1918, gives the following:

‘Mr and Mrs W. J. Gridley.... have received official confirmation that their second son, Signaller C. E. Gridley, Ox & Bucks L.I. was killed in action on September 12th [1918]. He joined up in September 1914, and went to France in May 1915, and had previously been wounded on two occasions. Writing to his parents, the Chaplain said: “We had a battle on the eve of the 12th, and your son was struck by a piece of shell, which burst near him, and killed him instantly. We can only be thankful that he did not suffer at all, but how you must feel his loss! I wish I could offer more than mere sympathy. He was a fine soldier, and bore an excellent character, as his Officers and comrades testify, and he will be much missed in the Regiment.”

Over three years ago, Mr and Mrs Gridley lost their eldest son, Sgt. W. E. Gridley, of the Canadian Highlanders, who was gassed during the Canadian attack in April 1915. Another son, 2/Lieut. H. E. Gridley, is in the Canadian Flying Corps.’

Gridley initially served during the Great War with the 5th (Service) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the French theatre of war. He subsequently transferred to the 2nd Battalion, and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

William Ernest Gridley was the elder brother of the above, and was born in Slough, Berkshire in March 1891. He was employed as a Cemetery Foreman prior to the Great War, and served with the 1st Berkshire Rifles. Gridley emigrated to Canada, and served as a Sergeant with the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. The Slough and Windsor Express, 1 May 1915, gives the following:

‘Sergeant W. Gridley of the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders died on Monday [24 April 1915 - as a consequence of fighting at the Battle of St. Julien] in a base hospital at the front, from the effects of the poisonous gas disseminated by the Germans in their recent attack. After a splendid fight put up by the Canadians when they recaptured their lost guns from the Germans, Sgt. Gridley was found in an unconscious condition, owing to his having inhaled the fumes, and was removed to a hospital for treatment, where he lay in an unconscious condition until Monday, when he passed away...

Sergeant Gridley, whose parents reside in Hencroft St., left Slough for Canada five or six years ago. When the war broke out he joined the Seaforth Highlanders of the Canadian Force, and came to England with the first contingent... Sgt. Gridley was an old Tonman Mosley scholar, and formerly belonged to the 1st Slough Coy. of the Boys Life Brigade, under Lieut. Bell... Sgt. Gridley has a brother in the trenches, and another one in Canada who is anxious to join.’

Sergeant Gridley is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Nord, France.

Sold with copied research.