William Bond Grimshaw, 15174, 24th Manchesters

[grimmy]

Born: Hindley Green, Wigan, 8-4-1889, one of 7 children.
Parents: William Grimshaw and Mary Elizabeth (nee Crompton).
Married: Alice Fowler Henshall at Hope Chapel, Oldham, 12-10-1915 (obtained leave while in training)
Children: William b.1918, Sydney b.1920, Frank b.1923, Audrey b.1929.
Career:
Oldham Borough Police, later Rochdale Borough Police (Sergeant).
Moved to Bury Barracks "a month after the outbreak of war" as Drill Instructor.
Transferred to 24th Manchesters, 15-3-1915 (Previous Military Service - 9th Manchesters).
Promoted to CSM B Coy, 19-3-1915.
Reverted to Sgt, 28-8-1915.
Gassed 2-9-1916.
Transferred to Tank Corps, 28-12-1916 (new number 76709).
Demobbed: 31-3-1920, returned to Rochdale Borough Police (Sergeant).
Retired: 1938.
Died: 21-8-1971 at Wesham Hospital, Kirkham.
Cremated: Carleton Cemetery, Blackpool.

[grimmy]

I'd like to pin down exactly where he was gassed (on 2nd Sept) - I'm aiming to visit the area next spring.

I know the 24ths were in the Ginchy/Guillemont area, but I wonder if the war diary might be a bit more precise about the location and the circumstances.

Would it be at Kew? And do we know for sure that it exists?

[harribobs]

Hi Grimmy

I'm afraid i only have limited parts of the war diaries, and of course ( sods law) not the one you require....

Themonsstar may be able to advise you whether the full diary is available at kew

I am assuming you have a copy of cotton town comrades??

chris

[timberman]

There is not a lot of information in cotton town comrades but what there is, is on page 82.

Timberman

[grimmy]

Thanks men. Yeah got the book on CD, but it's tantalisingly vague about the date in question.

[themonsstar]

From the War Diary 24th Bn 3rd Sept 1916.

[grimmy]

themonsstar - that's superb, many thanks indeed.

So now I know where he was - strange there's no mention of anything untoward on the 2nd, unless he was one of the missing from the previous day.

Wind (and possibly gas) from the NNW - I'll need to check the maps.

Many thanks again.