No. 17471, Lance Corporal, George GRANGE
Aged 23
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George Grange was born in Binnimoor, March (North Witchford Q2-1894 3B:553), baptised in St. Wendreda, March on 29th April 1894, son of William Isaac and
Lydia GRANGE (née HUTCHINSON).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Badgeny, March with his father William Isaac GRANGE [32] farmer's son, born Sheffield; his mother Lydia [30] born March; sisters Florence May [8] and Edith May [5] both born in March. 1911 census...Aged 17 farmer's son, he was at Lords Drove Farm, Swaffham Prior with his parents and sister Edith May. Around the time of George's death his parents were at Ditch Farm, Burwell. This is where the pension card has his mother initially and later the address is c/o. Mr LYE, 4 Hereward Street, March. It seems likely his father died in Wisbech in 1922 |
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Residing at Burwell, he enlisted in Newmarket.
The 2nd battalion Coldstream Guards were countering German attacks at the end of November 1917. A call had gone out to muster tanks to prevent Gouzeaucourt falling to the German. Whilst the tanks were getting underway Brigadier General Champion de Crespigny of 1st Guards Brigade, had already ridden forward from Metz to discover that Gouzeaucourt was actually already held by the Germans. Without artillery or tank support the General deployed his men and attacked the village down the Metz-Gouzeaucourt Road. The 1st Irish Guards were north of the road and the 2nd and 3rd Coldstream Guards to the south. Their move was been masked by the crest of the hill just west of the village and although as they came into sight of the German troops they were met with machine gun and artillery fire, their own machine gun crews overcame the enemy and the Guardsmen rushed in to retake the village. By 1330 hours the Guards were on the eastern edge of the village and numerous guns that had been abandoned a few hours ago were now brought back into action against the retreating Germans. By the time that the tanks had come up they found that the work had been done without them. The effort had cost the 2nd Coldstreams 52 killed, 40 of them have no identified grave. |
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