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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 422

The Great War campaign group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant The Hon. G. W. “Billy” Grenfell, The Rifle Brigade, who was killed by machine-gun fire while leading a counter-attack at Hooge in July 1915: like his brother a formidable boxer, and one of the great scholars of his generation, one of his wartime verses was also published by The Times

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. Hon. G. W. Grenfell, Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. G. W. Grenfell), with original silk ribands and official forwarding letter, virtually as issued

Gerald William Grenfell - or 'Billy' to his friends and comrades - was born at 4, St. James’s Square, London, in March 1890, younger brother of Julian and the middle son of Lord and Lady Desborough. A brilliant academic, he gained the Newcastle entrance scholarship at Eton and the Craven scholarship at Balliol College, Oxford, but his talents extended to sporting accolades as well - ‘He won the boxing at Eton and twice represented Oxford against Cambridge in the heavy weights, and also played for Oxford in the tennis doubles for two years.’

About to be called to the Bar, on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade and went out to France in May 1915, where he was killed by machine-gun fire at Hooge on 30 July, while leading a counter-attack. A fellow officer, Captain A. C. Sheepshanks wrote:

‘He died splendidly, leading his men over open ground up hill in the face of a tremendous fire from machine-guns. His Platoon Sergeant saw him pitch forward with a bullet in the head, and thinks he was hit again in the side as he fell. He must have been killed instantaneously as he was not seen to move afterwards. Both as his company commander and his friend - I shall miss him enormously. His platoon all loved him, and he had somehow inspired them with a fighting spirit, and it was only a few days ago that I told the Colonel that Bill's platoon was the best fighting platoon I had.’

And the Battalion’s Second-in-Command wrote:

'We were great friends, and though I didn't know him before he joined, I, like all the others, was immediately drawn to him by his delightful personality. I know you must be inundated with letters, so feel rather diffident about adding to the number, but somehow it seems to help to write about a dear friend that has gone. We all loved Billy, and his men, to my certain knowledge, adored him. It couldn't have been otherwise, because ever since he went to France he was always to the fore, and what the men always like, never expected them to do anything he couldn't do himself. His gallantry was remarkable, and fear was a word he didn't know the meaning of. As you know, he died at the head of his men leading a counter-attack. It's but poor consolation, but I am positive that of all deaths 'tis the one he would have chosen ... That was a fearful day, and no one can describe the horror of seeing 20 officers and well over 500 men fall in one Battalion in about 14 hours.’

On 11 August 1915, the following notice appeared in The Times:

‘On 28 May, the day on which his death from wounds was announced, we published some remarkable verses written in the trenches by Captain Julian Grenfell. The following lines are a translation from the Latin written by his brother, Mr. G. W. Grenfell, who was killed in action last week, in memory of a friend, also killed in action earlier in the war:

'O heart-and-soul and careless played
Our little band of brothers
And never reckoned the time would come
To change our games for others.

It’s joy for those who played with you
To picture now that grace
Was in your mind and single heart
And in your radiant face.

Your light-foot strength by flood and field
For England keener glowed;
To whatsoever things are fair
We know, through you, the road.

Nor is our grief the less thereby;
O swift and strong and dear, Good-bye.'

At Taplow Parish Church yesterday evening a memorial service was held for the two sons of Lord and Lady Desborough, who have given their lives for their country.’

To add to the sense of family loss, it should be noted that his and Julian’s twin cousins also fell in action - namely Captain Francis Grenfell, the first V.C. winner of the Great War, and Captain R. N. “Rivy” Grenfell.

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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£700