N B C B Grounds, Captain 1st Kings

[wainfleet]

When my partner was a teenager she lived in Boston, Lincs, next door to a retired Colonel Grounds. We think he must have been N B C B Grounds, Captain in the 1st Kings Liverpools then Major in the 3rd Lincolns. Strangely, his medal card shows him in the "8th Company 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment". Surely the 8-company formation was out for everyone by 1914?

Colonel Grounds walked with a stick, so may have been wounded with the Kings and sent home to the Lincs reserve battalion. He had a large moustache, a wife named Bunty and a small yappy dog. My partner recalls regularly hearing him shout "Bunty! Silence that bloody dog!"

Can anyone tell me anything more about the war service of this fine military gentleman?

Thanks,

W.

[River97]

There is a MIC on Ancestry for the above mentioned. More writing on it than I have ever seen on an MIC, both front and back.

Entitled to the 1914 Star and bar trio, arriving in France on 13 August 1914.

Send me a PM with your e-mail address.

Cheers Andy.

[River97]

Got some more for you,

Not a great deal of military stuff, but here are some other things.

Noel Charles Barwick Byham Grounds was born in Pottersbury, Northamptonshire, in December 1880. He married Evangeline Mary Brandford Griffith. The old soldier died in 1956 in North Bucks, Buckinghamshire.

Cheers Andy.

[Paul Reed]

I am pretty sure an early issue of Stand To! has an article about Grounds - from memory extracts from his diaries?

[Terry_Reeves]

Lt Colonel Noel Barwick Charles Byam Grounds

Died Newport Pagnell, September 1956 aged 74.

Educated Eton. Joined Northamptonshire Militia before transferring to The King's (Liverpool) Regiment. Served in the South African War, Burma and India. In WW1 he served in France and Egypt.

Retired 1922. He was a member of Buckinghamshire County Council from 1938 - 1952, specialising in public health and education. In WW2 he was ARP Controller for North Buckinghamshire. An expert skier, he was a founder member of the Wengers "Downhill Only" ski club.

Source: Times Obituary.

TR

[linge]

He has an obit in the times dated 17th Sept 1956

Lieut-Colonel N B C Byam Grounds

Educated Eton

Joined Northampton Militia, transferred to The King's (Liverpool Regiment) served in the South Africa War, in Burma and India. 1914-18 war served in France and Egypt. Retired in 1922

Member of Bucks CC for 14 years until 1952

2nd WW was ARP Controller for North Bucks

Excelled at skiing was a founder member of Wengen "Downhill Only" ski club.

Born at Passenham Manor, Northants 23rd October 1880

Married 8th November 1916, Evangelina Mary Brandford Griffith (d/o Sir William Brandford Griffith Govenor of the Gold Coast)

Died at Sherington, Buckinghamshire 14th September 1956

List of Etonians who fought in the Great War:

1898 Byam-Grounds, N. B. C., Major (temp Lieut-Col) The King's (Liverpool Regiment), attd. Manchester Regt. and R Warwickshire R., wounded in France

Regards

Pam

[wainfleet]

Hello Andy

Thank you very much for looking. If Noel Grounds died in Bucks in 1956, though, he cannot be my partner's neighbour, as she remembers him in Boston in the 1960s. Of course we don't know for sure that this gentleman had WW1 service, we just guessed that he might well, as he was the right age and his connection with the 3rd Lincs seemed too much of a coincidence. But it seems coincidences happen!

The only other 2 officers named Grounds are Capt Joseph Grounds of the RAMC and 2nd Lt. Keble Grounds of the Notts and Derby. There's no obvious connection other than their commissioned rank and unusual name. If you have a spare moment to see if there's an address in Boston on either MIC, we would very much appreciate it. If there isn't, we may have to accept we can take it no further for now.

Best wishes,

W.

[Add - thanks also to Pam, Terry and Paul! 3 posters at once!]

[linge]

How about this one

The Times 14th Sept 1983

Mr G. A. Grounds

Mr George Ambrose Grounds, CBE, DSO who died on September 9 at the age of 96, was a former chairman of Holland CC, Lincolnshire and an Alderman for 13 years.

He had a distinguished record of service in both World Wars winning the DSO in 1917 and adding a Bar to it a year later while serving in the Royal Tank Corps. He was also wounded.

In the Second World War he served in the Royal Artillery attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was also deputy Lieutenant of Lincolnshire in 1951."

Born 19th November 1886 in March Cambridgeshire

Married Tonbridge RD 1950 Kathleen Burton Sale she died 1968 (aged 61) Death Reg Boston Lincs

His death was registered in Boston Lincolnshire

MIC

HAC, 1st Battalion, Private, 978

Tank Corps, Temp Lieut

8th Battn, Acting Captain

"Homeland"

8 Westley Road

Bury St Edmunds

National Provincial bank

Bury St Edmunds

DSO LG 18th Feb 1918

Bar LG 1st Feb 1919

T Capt (A/Major) 8th Battn, Tank Corps

1st Feb 1919

GROUNDS, GEORGE AMBROSE, D.S.O, Temporary Capt. (Acting Major), 8th Battn., Tank Corps., On the night of 10-11 Aug. 1918, during the operations near Prozart, for conspicuous gallantry in charge of two sections of Tanks co-operating with the infantry. When some confusion was caused among the latter by heavy machine-gun fire in the darkness he went forward with complete disregard of danger, and reorganized the column, keeping the leading Tanks in action for an hour and a half after the infantry had withdrawn. He remained out alone for some time after the last tank had withdrawn to ensure getting accurate touch with the situation."

He has entries in Who's Who (1972, 1982, 1983) if anyone has these versions.

Regards

Pam

[Simon Jones]

I am pretty sure an early issue of Stand To! has an article about Grounds - from memory extracts from his diaries?

You are correct Paul, it was in about 1984. He suffered a breakdown in 1914 and was sent home.

[wainfleet]

Pam

That is without any doubt the man. My partner recognises the name Kathleen (Bunty was evidently a nickname), and the dates and everything else tally. Thank you so much, from both of us. It is amazing what this Forum can turn up in a matter of minutes!!

If you or anyone else have any more information, or pointers for where to look, or even a photo, that would be a bonus.

Best wishes,

W.

[IPT]

Clearly, a yapping dog would have been no match.

IN A BURNING TANK.

The deeds of gallantry which won the D.S.O. and 'M.C. for a number of tank officers and others are described in a recent supplement to the "London Gazette." 'the tank of Second-Lieutenant Frederick W. McElroy (D.S.O.) caught fire, and had to be evacuated, but he gallantly remained inside in spite of the fumes, and, with his Lewis gun, held back single-handed the enemy attempting to capture his tank. When his crew, many of whom were wounded were surrounded in a shell-hole, he killed eight of the enemy with his revolver. By his courage and coolness the tank and crew were saved. His tank being put out of action by a direct hit, Second-Lieutenant William R. Bion (D.5.0.) occupied a section of trench with his men and machine guns, firing on the enemy. At one period he fired a Lewis gun wiih great effect from the top of his tank. When the tank of Captain Walter D .Gerrard (D.5.0.) was ditched, he formed his men into a Lewis gun section and led them into action. The same is stated of Captain George A. Grounds (D.S.O.). The tank of second-Liexitenant (Arthur 8.. Latch (D.5.0.) was surrounded in the dark by the enemy, who climbed on to the top of it and seized hold of his machine guns. _He succeeded in driving them oil", punishing them severely.

[River97]

There is a MIC for the chap on Ancestry. He arrived in France on 18 September 1914 as a Private. Along with his awards he was entitled to the 1914 Star and Bar trio.

On the rear of the MIC are two addresses:

National Provincial Bank LTD.

Bury St. Edmunds

"Homeland"

8 Westley Road

Bury St. Edmunds.

Cheers Andy.