246572 L/Cpl. George Henry Grantham British Army 15th (Civil Service Rifles) Btn. C.Coy. London Regiment (d.15th September 1916) George Grantham, son of George and Mary Grantham of 127 Marlborough Road, Bedford. Served with C Coy. 1st/15th (Civil Service Rifles) Battalion London Regiment. He was killed in action on 15th of September 1916 aged 22 years during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial. He is also remembered on the War Memorial inside All Saints church, Bedford. Extract from the Bedfordshire Times and Independent dated 6th October 1916: "The death in action on the Western front is reported of Lance corporal George Henry Grantham, elder son of Mr. And Mrs. Grantham of Marlborough Road, Bedford. A promising career at the Modern School ended in his being awarded a Leaving Exhibition, with which he went to a London College. Thence he passed into the Actuarial Department of the National Health Insurance Commission, being placed eleventh in a competitive examination with 400 entrants. While serving in this Department, he gained the distinction, at the early age of 21, of Associate-ship of the Institute of Actuaries. The examination over, he at once joined up and on December 2nd 1915, crossed to France with a draft of the London Regiment (the Civil Service Rifles). When the Great Push came he saw considerable fighting, but escaped unhurt until 15th of September 1916, when he met an instantaneous death. At school the boys admired him as a sticker and a straight forward fellow, while the Headmaster and staff looked upon him as one sure to make a name for himself, and do honour to the school. He was quiet and unassuming, but a lad of great strength of character. From his Commanding Officer and from his comrades at the front, Mr. And Mrs. Grantham have received letters bearing witness to the esteem in which he was held by those who have been with him daily during his ten months in France, his comrades mentioning that he wad always brave, cheerful and a gentleman".
Pupil of Bedford Modern School 1905-12, he commemorated on the School War Memorial. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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