Arthur Horace Grace (1880 - 1918)

Born 1880 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Favell) Grace — married 1912 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 27 Aug 1918 at about age 38 in Mory, Pas-de-Calais, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Delia Randolph [send private message]

Biography

In Memory of Gunner ARTHUR HORACE GRACE

29889, 2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards who died age 36 on 27 August 1918 Son of William and Mary Grace, of Bedford. Served in the South African Campaign. Remembered with honour MORY ABBEY MILITARY CEMETERY, MORY

Arthur was born in 1880 in Bedford in Bedfordshire, England, the son of William Grace and Mary Ann Billingham. He grew up in Bedford where his father was a bricklayer worker, and by 1901 he had joined the Grenadier Guards and was based at the Victoria Barracks in Windsor, Berkshire. He served at some point in the South African Campaign (1899-1902) (to confirm). He then joined his brother in Nottingham in Nottinghamshire and in 1911 was working as an 'iron monger carter' (transporting hardware on a cart?). He had married to Jane Favell and had a child. It appears they formalized the marriage in 1912 and had another child who died in infancy. When World War 1 broke out, he was called up as a reservist and served as a guardsman with the Grenadier Guards in the British Expeditionary Force in France from August 1914 until his death in August 1918 in the second Battle of Bapaumes in the action between Mory and Saint Léger. He was 38 years old. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and is buried in the Mory Abbey Military Cemetery in Mory, France.

Children:

1. Mabel, 1909-1915
2. Ethel, 1913-1913

Research notes

Military records for the settling of Arthur's accounts indicate that his legatee was Mrs. Annie R. Penfold. It is not clear what her relation was to Arthur and why his wife was not named. A record suggests their child died in 1915, so perhaps his wife Jane had also died. The gravestone records also mention the contact as A. Penfold Esq 10 Old Gloucester St. Holborn, W.C.

Sources

Birth

"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XJQ-HX2 : 1 October 2014), Arthur Horace Grace, 1880; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Event Type: Birth Registration

Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec

Registration Year: 1880

Registration District: Bedford

County: Bedfordshire

Event Place: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

Volume: 3B

Page: 321

Affiliate Line Number: 44

Marriage

"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26CM-1YK : 13 December 2014), Arthur H Grace and null, 1912; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1912, quarter 3, vol. 7B, p. 777, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Name: Arthur H Grace

Event Type: Marriage

Event Place: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Registration District: Nottingham

County: Nottinghamshire

Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep

Registration Year: 1912

Volume: 7B

Page: 777

Affiliate Line Number: 61

Spouse Name (available after 1911): Favell

Possible Spouse: Jane Favell

Residence in Bedfordshire

"England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-6S5F : 11 December 2017), Arthur Horace Grace in household of William Grace, Bedford Western Ward St Mary, Bedfordshire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 22, Piece/Folio 1622/34, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,490.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 1881

Event Place: Bedford Western Ward St Mary, Bedfordshire, England

Registration District: Bedford

Residence Note: 39 Pilcroft St E

Gender: Male

Age: 0

Marital Status: unmarried

Relationship to Head of Household: Son

Birth Year (Estimated): 1881

Birthplace: Bedford, England

Page Number: 22

Registration Number: RG11

Piece/Folio: 1622/34

Affiliate Record Type: Household

Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):

William Grace, Head, Male, 21, married, Bricklayers Labourer, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Mary Ann Grace, Wife, Female, 23, married, Maulden, Bedfordshire, England

Alfred Thomas Grace, Son, Male, 2, unmarried, Bedford, England

Arthur Horace Grace, Son, Male, 0 [4 months], Bedford, England

Lucy Billingham, Mother, Female, 58, widow, housekeeper, Maulden, Bedfordshire, England

Charles Billingham, Son, Male, 25, unmarried, laborer iron works, Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England

Ellen Elizth Billingham, Daughter, Female, 17, unmarried, General servant (unwell), Maulden, Bedfordshire, England

Note: on Census title page, noted 'Revised 1 Jun 1881'

"England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7BH6-HN2 : 2 May 2019), Alfred T Grace in household of William Grace, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Bedfordshire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Name: Alfred T Grace

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 1891

County: Bedfordshire

Parish: Bedford Eastern Ward

Ecclesiastical Parish: HOLY TRINITY

Registration District: Bedford

Address: 54 Garfield Street

Gender: Male

Age: 12

Occupation: Scholar

Relationship to Head of Household: Son

Birth Year (Estimated): 1879

Birthplace: Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Page Number: 11

Registration Number: RG12

Piece/Folio: 1249/ 53

Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):

William Grace, Head, Male, 32, widower, bricklayers laborer, employed, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Alfred T Grace, Son, Male, 12, Scholar, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Arthur H Grace, Son, Male, 10, Scholar, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Frederick W Grace, Son, Male, 6, Scholar, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, England

Lucy Billingham, Mother, Female, 68, widow, occupation: [blank], Mauden, Bedfordshire, England

Residence in London

"England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS3R-RXQ : 1 May 2019), Arthur Grace, New Windsor, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Windsor subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Name: Arthur Grace

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 31 Mar 1901

Event Place: New Windsor, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

County: Berkshire

Civil Parish: New Windsor

Ecclesiastical Parish: New Windsor St John The Baptist With All Saints

Sub-District: Windsor

Registration District: Windsor

ED, institution, or vessel: Victoria Barracks Windsor

Gender: Male

Age: 20

Marital status: Single

Occupation: PRIVATE GRENADIER GUARDS

Birth Year (Estimated): 1881

Birthplace: St Peters, Bedfordshire

Page Number: 3

Note: Enumeration title page indicates: Victoria Barracks, Windsor, The whole of the Infantry Barracks including the Guard on Windsor Castle, Victoria Street, Windsor

Residence in Nottinghamshire

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWS6-SKL : 21 December 2018), Arthur Horace Grace, Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Alias: HORACE

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 1911

Event Place: Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

County: Nottinghamshire

Parish: Nottingham

Sub-District: Nottingham South East

Sub-District Number: 2

District Number: 430

Enumeration District: 27

Registration District: Nottingham

Gender: Male

Age: 31

Marital Status: MARRIED

Marital Status: MARRIED

Occupation: IRON MONGERS CARTER

Number in Family: 3

Birth Year (Estimated): 1880

Birthplace: Bedford, Bedfordshire

Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Schedule Type: 187

Page Number: 1

Registration Number: RG14

Piece/Folio: 373

Affiliate Record Identifier: GBC/1911/RG14/20540/0373/1

Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):

Arthur Horace Grace, Head, M, 31, married, Iron mongers Carter; worker, Bedford, Bedfordshire

Jane Grace, Wife, F, 32, Yrs married: 5; children born: 1; living: 1; died: 0; Charwoman; Goldington, Bedfordshire

Mabel Grace, Daughter, F, 2, Nottingham

Address: 11 Annesley St, Meadows, Nottingham

Military

Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Birth Place: Bedford

Death Date: 27 Aug 1918

Death Place: France and Flanders

Enlistment Place: Camberwell

Rank: GDSN.

Regiment: Grenadier Guards

Battalion: 2nd Battalion

Regimental Number: 29889

Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Ancestry.com. British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

Name: Arthur H Grace

Regiment or Corps: Grenadier Guards

Rank: Gdsn

Regimental Number: 7862

Campaign: 1914-15

Theatre of War: France

Qaulifying date: 1 Apr 1915

Medals:

Victory: Roll G103B5; page 424

British: Roll G103B5; page 424

15 Star: GG11B, p. 78

Ancestry.com. UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Military Year: 1914-1920

Rank: Guardsman

Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal

Regiment or Corps: Grenadier Guards

Regimental Number: 7862

Previous Units: 2 G. Gds. 7862 Gdsn

Date: 13 Mar 1920

Note: "Medals retd. under para 1743 K.R. C.R.V. 253/B 3/2/23 AUTHY 7753/ADT." which probably refers to medals being returned for adjustments

Source Citation: The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls; Class: WO 329; Piece Number: 611

Ancestry.com. UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

1st record:

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Gender: Male

Death Date: 27 Aug 1918

Death Place: France

Death: In action

Rank: Private

Regiment: Grenadier Guards

Battalion: 2nd

Regimental Number: 29889

Record no.: 785686

Registry no.: E/649361

Credits: 5 pds 7s 5d + 5 pbs War Gratuity

Payment dates, 12 Sep 1918; 27 Nov 1919

To whom authorized: Leg: Annie R. Penfold

Note: "See also 605/981571. 21/22"

Source Citation: National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 785501-787000; Reference: 475

2nd record:

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Gender: Male

Death Date: 27 Aug 1918

Death Place: B.E.F.

Rank: Private

Regiment

Grenadier Guards

Battalion: 2nd

Regimental Number: 29889 7862

Record no.: 981871

Registry no.: E/649361/3

Credits: 9 pds Hors Gds.

Payment date: 25 Feb 1922 /4

To whom authorized: Legat 25: Mrs. Annie R. Penfold

Note: "See also 475/785686. 18/19; Bal of War Gratuity GBP 9-0-0

Source Citation: National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 980501-982000; Reference: 605

Hughes, Peter, 2015. Visiting the Fallen-Arras South, Casemate Publishers, p. 240-241. Accessed at Google Books, 10 May 2019.

Although the CWGC register shows the rank of Arthur Horace GRACE, 2nd Grenadier Guards, as gunner, this is merely a typographical error, as his headstone shows it correctly as 'guardsman', as do other records. He had also served in the South African War and was 36 years old when he was killed inaction. (Plot V.D.10)

Actions involving Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion:

15.08.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; The First Battle of Ypres after which only 4 officers and 140 men remained of the Battalion.

20.08.1915 Transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade of the Guards Division and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;

During 1916 The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval.

During 1917 The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Pilkem, The Battle of the Menin Road, The Battle of Poelkapelle, The First Battle of Passchendaele, The Battle of Cambrai 1917.

During 1918 The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras 1918, The Battle of Albert, The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre.

Death

CWGC Register; accessed 14 May 2019.

Name: Arthur Horace Grace

Position: Guardsman

Service no.: 29889

Death date: 27 Aug 1918

Age: 36

Unit: 2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards

Family: Son of William and Mary Grace, of Bedford

Previous Service: South African Campaign

Cemetery: Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, Pas de Calais, France

Gravesite: V.D. 10

NOTE: Includes digitized grave records

Headstone no.: 576

Headstone note: A. Penfold Esq 10 Old Gloucester St. Holborn, W.C.

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 May 2019), memorial page for Gnr Arthur Horace Grace (unknown–27 Aug 1918), Find A Grave Memorial no. 56416934, citing Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France ; Maintained by CWGC/ABMC (contributor 6) .

Name: Gnr Arthur Horace Grace

Birth: unknown

Death: 27 Aug 1918

Burial: Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, :Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Plot: V. D. 10.

Memorial #: 56416934

Gravesite Details: Gunner, Grenadier Guards. Age: 36.

Created by: CWGC/ABMC (6)

Added: 7 Aug 2010

Photo?: no