| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Percy Walter Griggs was a professional soldier belonging to the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. He enlisted on 6 Feb 1907 and apart from a short period with the 3rd Battalion at the Regimental Depot, Victoria Barracks, Beverley, served with the 1st Battalion throughout his military career. At the outbreak of the Great War the Battalion was mobilized as part of the British Expeditionary Force and arrived in France on 9 Sep 1914. Their first encounter with the enemy was on 19 Sep 1914 at the actions on the Aisne Heights. The Battalion attacked German positions north of Fricourt on the opening of the Somme Offensive; it was here Corporal Percy Griggs was wounded on 1 Jul 1916.
He was decorated twice: For bravery in the field, he was awarded the Military Medal and the Citation reads:
“For that he, on 25th September 1916, on an attack at Gueudecourt, under heavy machine gun fire and bombs, held the ground with six men for 12 hours, thus enabling the remainder of his company, who had advanced a little further on his flanks, to consolidate the position.”
Then for gallantry at Kemmel Hill, Flanders, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Citation reads:
“For that he, on the 24th April 1918, showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty; during recent operations he did consistently good work, and under heavy shell fire, he led his ration party successfully through enemy posts to his company. He did splendid service.”
Over the course of the war, the 1st East Yorkshires were involved in some vicious fighting and suffered devastating losses. From an original strength of 985 men who went out in 1914 Percy Griggs was one of only seven men still serving with the Battalion at the end of the war. After the Armistice, C.Q.M.S. Griggs served in the Army for another seven years. He was discharged to pension on 15 Nov 1925, having completed more than eighteen years service with the Regiment.
Percy Walter Griggs was born at Buckhurst Hill, near Epping, Essex the 27 Mar 1888. He was the son of Walter William Griggs, a stonemason. Percy had a younger brother and sister. At Beverley Minster on the 5 Oct 1911, Percy married Frances Alice Fortes, daughter of Harry and Mary Fortes of 4 Clark Place, Wilbert Lane, Beverley. They had six children, four sons and two daughters.
Percy died in Hull Royal Infirmary. He was buried with Military Honours in Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |