No.26961, Private, Thomas Frederick GRAINGER
Aged 21
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Thomas Grainger was born in Brinkley in 1896 (Newmarket Q4-1896 3B:509) baptised Brinkley 20th December 1896, son of Thomas Frederick and Annie GRAINGER
(née FREE).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Lower Farm Cottages, Brinkley with his father Thomas Frederick GRAINGER [35] horsekeeper; his mother Annie [29]; brothers William G [6] and Charles [ 4 months] and sister Ellen R [2]. All were born in Brinkley except his mother Annie, who was born in Linton. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was still at Lower Farm, Brinkley with his parents, brothers William George (stock man), Charles and Jack [1] born Lower Farm, Brinkley, and sisters Ellen Rebecca and Dora [5] born Lower Farm, Brinkley.
The pension card has his parents at Reed's Farm, Babraham.
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Enlisted in Newmarket. Thomas was killed on the 2nd day of the Kaiserschlacht, the German Spring Offensive. The 11th Suffolks were in the Sensee valley and by nightfall on the 21st the Germans had broken through to St Leger. The enemy continued to advance and the battalion were ordered to withdraw from Croiselle front line which had been the old Hindenburg support line. The engineers endeavoured to destroy the tunnels. From dawn to dusk on the 22nd the 11th Suffolks strove to defend Henin Hill but at dusk they began to give way and battalion HQ and 2 companies fell back to the 3rd line just in front of Boyelles. The 11th Suffolks had 50 killed that day and none has an identified grave, all are named on the Arras Memorial. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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