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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Bicester (Oxon), St. Edburg's Church |
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The War Memorial outside St. Edburg's Church, Bicester
Photo © Copyright Jaggery
and licensed for reuse under this Creative
Commons Licence
The War Memorial for Bicester (Oxon) stands outside the Church of St. Edburg. Although the memorial is dedicated to those who lost their lives in both World Wars, no names are commemorated on the memorial itself. Instead, plaques bearing the names of those who fell are located inside the church porch.
102 names are commemorated for those who lost their lives in the First World War, and 26 for the Second World War.
One Officer who served with the Yorkshire Regiment is commemorated both on the First World War plaque inside the church porch, and on a special family memorial inside the church itself.
We are very grateful to Susan Wynne-Jones, Team Administrator of the Bicester Area Team Ministry, for the photos of the commemorative First World War plaque inside the church porch and the family memorial to the above Officer.
Lieutenant William Henry Grimsley. 14th Battalion the
Yorkshire Regiment, attached 9th Battalion. A.R.C.O. Son of James William
and Alice Grimsley, of 48, Sheep St., Bicester, Oxon. Killed 6 October 1918.
Aged 27.
Buried BEAUREVOIR BRITISH CEMETERY.
The following notes on Lieutenant Grimsley are found in Robert
Coulson's biographies of Yorkshire Regiment Officers killed in the war;-
"William Grimsley was born at Bicester in Oxfordshire in 1892, the son
of a local builder.
With a talent for music, before the war he was an Associate of the Royal College
of Organists.
He joined the 9th Battalion in a draft from the 14th (home based) Battalion
which provided men for all the serving Green Howard battalions.
Towards the end of the war in actions against the Hindenberg Line Lt Grimsley
was involved in a successful attack on the village of Beaurevoir carried out
at 6-00 a.m. on October 5th 1918.
The following day the battalion were pushing the line forward to the north
of the village when Lt William Henry Grimsley was killed in action aged 27
on October 6th 1918.
He is buried close to where he fell in Beaurevoir British Cemetery. "
The First World War Commemorative Panel in the porch of St. Edburg's Church,
Bicester
Photo : Susan Wynne-Jones
The
Memorial to Lieutenant Grimsley in St. Edburg's Church, Bicester
Photo : Susan Wynne-Jones
St.
Edburg's Church, Bicester, and the War Memorial
Photo © Copyright Jaggery
and licensed for reuse under this Creative
Commons Licence
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