Selected Biographies

Gridley, Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.12.1876.[1]  Parents: Alfred Gridley (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Jane [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Gridley [b1879]; also, uncle of Archie Walter Gridley [b1890] and cousin of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890], Harry William Gridley [b1893] and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896], brother-in-law of Harry James Butcher [b1872].  Home: Bull Lane Cottages, Bull Lane, Long Melford (1881 and 1891), 47 Carpers Road, Camberwell, London (1901), 379 Rotherhithe New Road, Bermondsey, London [1903], 199 Albert Road, Peckham, London (1911) to [1912], 36 Acorn Place, Peckham [1915 to 1934], 81 Hill Street, Camberwell [1937 to 1938].[2]  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Bricklayer’s Labourer (1901), General Labourer (1911), Excavator [1915].  Married: Lillian Florence Hedges [d1912] in 1903, and to Louisa Amelia King in 1919.  Service Record: Alfred enlisted on 15.5.1915 as Pte.T4/107630 with the Horse Transport section of the Army Service Corps.  He was posted to France from 24.5.1915 to 27.1.1919 with the Lahore Ammunition Park, ASC.  By the time of his discharge in January 1919 Private Gridley was serving with 35^th Divisional Motor Transport Company, ASC.[3]  Died: Camberwell, London in 1938.

Gridley, Archibald Stephen – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.12.1890.[4]  Parents: Daniel Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) and Ellen [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887]; also, cousin of Alfred Gridley [b1876], Charles Gridley [b1879], Harry William Gridley [b1893] and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896], and brother-in-law of George John Pettit [b1868] and Charles Clarke [b1875].  Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1891), Cadges Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1911) to [1919], 31 Forest Road, West Ham, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Labourer (1911), Warehouse Porter [1916], Wholesale Warehouse Assistant (1939).  Married: Rachel Maria Algar in 1920.  Service Record: Archie was conscripted on 19.2.1916 as Pte.5667, [renumbered in 1917 as Pte.572708] with 2/17^th [County of London] Battalion, London Regiment [Poplar and Stepney Rifles], posted to Salonika from 29.12.1916 as part of 180^th Brigade, 60^th [2/2^nd London] Division, and seeing action at the Battle of Doiran.  His unit was next posted to Egypt from 16.6.1917, joining the Palestine Campaign at the Third Battle of Gaza in October 1917 and the Battle of Tell ‘Asur in the following March.  After leave in England Archie re-joined his unit on 21.8.1918, now serving with 89^th Brigade, 30^th Division on the Western Front.  For much of the period between September and the end of January 1919 however, Archie was hospitalized with a variety of illnesses including influenza and malaria.  In August he transferred as Rfn.64302 to the 5^th Battalion, Rifle Brigade [The Prince Consort’s Own], receiving his discharge in September 1919.[5]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1974.

Gridley, Archie Walter – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.3.1890.[6]  Parent: Emma Florence Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) [married George Henry Bullock (Maltster’s Labourer) in 1893].  Family Connections: Nephew of Alfred Gridley [b1876] and Charles Gridley [b1879].  Home: Living with his mother and Alfred and Jane Gridley (Grandmother) at Bull Lane, Long Melford (1891), Cadges Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), 70 Gallatly Road, Deptford, London [1933 to 1935], 13 Martins Place, Deptford [1936 and 1937], 309 Queens Road, Deptford (1939) to [1963].[7]  Occupation: Night Watchman (1939).  Married: Helen May Postlethaite in 1930.  Service Record: Archie enlisted in 1907 as Pte.7521 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, enlisting in the Cheshire Regiment in the same year.  Although no definitive military record has been found, he could be the same man as Pte.8754 of 8^th [Service] Battalion, Cheshire Regiment who was later renumbered as Pte.81977.  The earlier number is contemporary with other men who joined the Cheshires in 1907.  Archie’s Medal Roll also records that he was in 8^th Cheshire’s N^o. 1 Stokes Mortar Battery and rose to the rank of Corporal.  8^th Cheshires was part of 40^th Brigade, 13^th [Western] Division posted to Gallipoli from July 1915, and from March 1916 to Mesopotamia, seeing action at the Battle of Kut al Amara between December and February 1917.[8]  Died: Deptford, London in 1963.

Gridley, Albert ‘Bertie’ Harry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1896.  Parent: Amelia Gridley (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Harry William Gridley [b1893]; also, cousin of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890], Alfred Gridley [b1876] and Charles Gridley [b1879].  Home: Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1901), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1911).[9]  Occupation: Stable boy at Melford Place Farm (1911) to [1917].  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in June 1917, Bertie’s employer Charles Westropp applied for his exemption, which was refused.[10]  Bertie Gridley was conscripted as Pte.G/60077 with 2^nd Battalion, The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment and posted to France with 3/4^th Battalion, The Queens as part of 62^nd Brigade, 21^st Division.[11]  Died: Private Gridley was killed in action at Reutel near Ypres on 5.11.1917, during the Second Battle of Passchendaele.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing [panel 14 to 17 and 162 to 162a], Belgium, and on the Long Melford War Memorial.[12]

Gridley, Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.7.1879.[13]  Parents: Alfred Gridley (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Jane [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Gridley [b1876]; also, uncle of Archie Walter Gridley [b1890] and cousin of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890], Harry William Gridley [b1893], and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896].  Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1881 and 1891), 47 Carpers Road, Camberwell, London (1901) 379 Rotherhithe New Road, Camberwell [1903 to 1907], 11 Woods Road, Peckham, London (1911), 11 Copeland Avenue, Rye Lane, Peckham [1919 to 1937], 10 Hill Street, Camberwell [1938].[14]  Occupation: Bricklayer’s Labourer (1901), General Labourer (1911) to [1915], Stone Man [1939].  Married: Minnie Ann Hedges in 1903.  Service Record: Charles enlisted on 26.5.1915 as Dvr.L/26721 with ‘B’ Battery, CLXXIV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, and was posted to France from 5.3.1916, transferring to ‘A’ Battery, CLXXXVI [Howitzer] Brigade, RFA, as part of 39^th Division.  His unit saw action at the Battles of the Somme in 1916, Third Ypres in 1917 and at First Somme and the Battles of the Lys in 1918.  Driver Gridley received his discharge in April 1919.[15]

Gridley, Daniel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.12.1884.[16]  Parents: Daniel Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) and Ellen [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], William Charles Gridley [b1887] and Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890]; also, cousin of Alfred Gridley [b1876], Charles Gridley [b1879], Harry William Gridley [b1893] and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896], and brother-in-law of George John Pettit [b1868] and Charles Clarke [b1875].  Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901 and 1911), Vanman [1916].  Married: Elizabeth Sansum in 1920.  Service Record: Daniel attested in 1915 as Dvr.T4/108218 with N^o. 3 Company, 26^th Remount Depot, Army Service Corps, being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged through sickness in January 1919.[17]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1949.

Gridley, Harry Albert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.5.1871.[18]  Parents: Daniel Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) and Ellen [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890]; also, cousin of Alfred Gridley [b1876], Charles Gridley [b1879], Harry William Gridley [b1893] and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896], and brother-in-law of George John Pettit [b1868] and Charles Clarke [b1875].  Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1881 and 1891), His Majesty’s Prison, Maidstone, Kent (1911), 9 Prospect Place, Croydon, Surrey [1915], Plums Lane, Bardfield Saling, Braintree, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Service Record: Harry enlisted on 28.5.1915 as Pte.3836 with 2/4^th Battalion, The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment, moving to 3/4^th Royal West Surreys shortly after.  By mid-August 1916 he had been transferred to 69^th Provisional Battalion being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 26.5.1916 as physically unfit.  His medical record shows that he had been diagnosed with pleurisy and was unable to walk any further than two miles.[19]

Gridley, Harry William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.1.1893.[20]  Parent: Amelia Gridley (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896] and cousin of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890], Alfred Gridley [b1876] and Charles Gridley [b1879], and brother-in-law of Frederick Charles Middleditch [b1891].  Home: Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1901), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1911), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1939) to [1977].  Occupation: Coconut Mat Labourer (1911), Coconut Matting Dyer [1916], Coconut Mat Maker (1939).  Married: Bessie Rose Middleditch in 1929.  Service Record: Harry was conscripted on 20.11.1916 as Pte.320746 with the Suffolk Regiment.  His extant Service Record is missing many vital pages and what remains gives no indication to which particular battalion he was drafted; however, we are told that he was posted to the MEF on 13.2.1917.  On the assumption that this acronym refers to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, the most likely destination at this time would be to Salonika to join 1^st Battalion Suffolks, as part of 84^th Brigade, 28^th Division.  Harry later transferred as Pte.573169 to 51^st Battalion, Labour Corps.[21]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.5.1977.[22]

Gridley, William Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.9.1887.[23]  Parents: Daniel Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) and Ellen [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890]; also, cousin of Alfred Gridley [b1876], Charles Gridley [b1879], Harry William Gridley [b1893] and Bertie Harry Gridley [b1896], and brother-in-law of George John Pettit [b1868], Charles Clarke [b1875], Charles William French [b1884], George Albert French [b1889] and Harry Ernest French [b1892].  Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Hill, Long Melford [1916], Cock and Bell Lane, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Ostler (1901), Groom [1909], Labourer (1911), Miller’s Carter for Frederick Branwhite and Sons [1917], Contractor’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Frances Ellen French in 1911.  Service Record: Before 1907 William was a member of 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  He enlisted in 1909 as Pte.10322 with ‘C’ Company, 3^rd [Reserve] Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, transferring to 1^st Leicesters and posted to France from 9.11.1914 to 11.02.1916 as part of 16^th Brigade, 6^th Division, transferring on 17.11.1915 within the division to 71^st Brigade.[24]  At the end of December William broke his ankle when he was digging in trenches near Ypres and was sent to N^o. 12 Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck in northern France for treatment.  He was considered unfit for further service and issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 11.7.1916.  This should have ensured that he would return to civilian life, however within a fortnight his employer Frederick Branwhite had to apply for his exemption from renewed enlistment, which was granted until the end of October.  Returning in November, Branwhite again asked for his exemption, this time being granted for a period of six months.  By August 1917 he is again before the Tribunal, his employer once again asking for exemption, which was ultimately refused.[25]  William Gridley was conscripted in 1917 as Pte.M/348079 with the Mechanical Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, it is not known if he was posted overseas.[26]

Related Biographies

Clarke, Charles – Born: Skryne, County Meath, Ireland on 14.3.1875.[27]  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890], Daniel Gridley [b1884] and William Charles Gridley [b1888].  Home: 17 Chapel Street, Hythe, Kent [1917], lodging with Ellen Gridley (Mother-in-Law), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford [1919], Woollards Gardens, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Groom [1914], Refuse Carter (1939).  Married: Minnie Maud Gridley of Long Melford in 1918.  Service Record: Charles was attested on 30.9.1914 as Dvr.T2/14560 with 190^th [Horse Transport] Company, Army Service Corps, part of 23^rd Divisional Train, and was posted to France from 24.8.1915 to 7.3.1917 where he saw action during the Somme Offensive in 1916.  Charles was transferred to 545^th [Horse Transport] Company, receiving his discharge in 1919.[28]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1943.

Pettitt, George John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 24.1.1868.[29]  Parents: George Pettitt (Bricklayer) and Letitia [née Ponder].  Family Connections: Brother to Frederick James Pettitt [b1885] and Harry Pettit [b1877]; also, brother-in-law of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887] and Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1871), Station Road, Long Melford (1881), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Grocer’s Shop Boy (1881), Railway Navvy (1901), Maltster’s Labourer (1911).  Married: Emma Gridley in 1897.  Service Record: George enlisted in 1887 as Pte.2008 with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, serving in Egypt and India before his discharge in 1899.  It is not known if he saw service during the First World War as no extant record has been found.[30]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1950.

Piper, Bertie Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.6.1893.[31]  Parents: George Piper (Carter) and Eliza [née Poulson] [d1894].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Harry Albert Gridley [b1871], Daniel Gridley [b1884], William Charles Gridley [b1887] and Archie Stephen Gridley [b1890].  Home: Living with Thomas Piper (Grandfather) at St Marys Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Miller (1911).  Married: Dorothy Jane Gridley in 1917.  Service Record: Bertie was conscripted on 2.11.1915 as Pte.1170/S with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, posted to Ireland with 63^rd Machine Gun Battalion from 26.4.1916 to 15.5.1916, in response to the ‘Easter Rising’.  He was transferred to 190^th Machine Gun Company and posted to France from 12.11.1917 as part of 190^th Brigade, 63^rd [Royal Naval] Division.  On 16.12.1917 his unit marched into positions between Marcoing and La Vacquerie south of Cambrai, spending the next week constructing and improving firing pits to cover Highland Ridge and the rear slope of Welsh Ridge.  This section of the Front had been fairly quiet, although bitterly cold over Christmas with six inches of snow falling on Boxing Day.  At dawn on 30.12.1917 a brief barrage was followed by a surprise attack by enemy troops dressed in white camouflage, who made a frontal assault with grenades and flame-throwers and quickly gained the snow-covered crest of Welsh Ridge.[32]  Concentrated machine-gun fire stemmed the German advance, which was eventually cleared by an intense artillery barrage.  At least five other Melford men were defending the Ridge on that day: Ernest Ambrose [b1878], Hubert Roy Barnes [b1898], George Henry Sansum [b1892], Owen Charles Sewell [b1897] and Arthur Edward Whent [b1889].  Their stories are to be found elsewhere in this Roll.[33]  Died: Private Piper died of wounds on 1.4.1918, is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery [grave ref: XXXII.A.9], Pas-de-Calais, France, and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[34]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 4.3.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [2] Address is taken from Marriage Register 31.5.1913, St Bartholomews Church, Bermondsey, London and Electoral Rolls for Peckham and Camberwell.  [3] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for West Ham District, Essex and corroborated by the Death Index.  [5] For details of 2/17^th London’s movements in Salonika in 1916, Egypt and Palestine in 1917, and on the Western Front in 1918 see War Diaries [WO 95/4928, WO 95/4669, and WO 95/2336/3].  Also see his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [6] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.4.1890, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [7] Addresses are taken from Electoral Rolls for Deptford.  [8] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1907.  The assumption on the timing of his enlistment is based on the very helpful blog https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/ cheshire-regiment-1881-1914-1st-2nd.html.  For details of 8^th Cheshire’s movements in Gallipoli and the Mesopotamian Campaign see War Diaries [WO 95/4303 and WO 95/5161/5-6].  Also see his assumed Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [9] Recorded as Albert Harry Gridley on the UK Census for 1911. [10] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 6.6.1917. [11] For details of 3/4^th Royal West Surrey’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2156/1].  Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [12] For notification of Bertie’s death see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 12.12.1917.  See also his Commonwealth War Graves Commission record, British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 609886].  [13] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 2.8.1879, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [14] Address is taken from Marriage Register 25.12.1903, St Bartholomews Church, Camberwell, London, and Electoral Roll for Camberwell in 1907, 1919, 1937 and 1938. [15] For details of 186^th Brigade’s deployment, see War Diary [WO 95/2574/6].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [16] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 1.3.1885, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [17] See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B70208], and his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] where he is recorded as David Gridley.  [18] Day and month of birth only are recorded in Baptism Register 4.8.1872, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  The 1939 Register for Braintree records his full date of birth as 18.5.1871.  [19] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364] and Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 182140].  [20] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 20.4.1893, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [21] For details of 1^st Suffolk’s movements in Salonika see War Diary [WO 95/4916].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [22] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [23] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.11.1887, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [24] For details of 1^st Leicester’s movements between 1914 and 1916 see War Diaries [WO 95/1611/2 and WO 95/1621/1]. [25] For the Tribunal’s rulings see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 26.7.1916, 29.11.1916 and 1.8.1917. [26] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 417153], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [27] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [28] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [29] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 3.4.1870, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [30] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1899.  [31] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 21.9.1893, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [32] For an impression of the conditions on the day of the assault on Welsh Ridge see John Nash’s painting Over the Top at the Imperial War Museum in London.  [33] For details of 190^th MG Company’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/3119/3]. [34] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and Royal Marines: Registers of Service [ADM 159/205].