GRIGG, Ronald Frederick Sugden


No.94115, Major, Ronald Frederick Sugden GRIGG
Aged 31


King's Royal Rifle Corps
Died by Accident on 7th/8th January 1944

Ronald Frederick Sugden GRIGG was born in Elstree on 17th June 1912 (Barnet Q3-1912 3A:806) son of Major Ronald Methven. and the Hon. Ethel Dorothy GRIGG (née SUGDEN).
His parents were of Sunninghill, Berkshire. His father died in 1942.
His father was Ronald Methven GRIGG [1877], born in Argentina; mother Hon. Edith Dorothy SUGDEN [1888] born Folkestone. The title The Honourable is due to the fact she was the sister of Baron St.Leonards, Frank Edward Sugden.

In June 1931 he was Sergeant of No.1 Company of Eton College Officer Training Corps and in the 3rd Eton College Group, Scouts He was at Eton from 1925 to 1931, an active participant in most of the College activities.He then went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, studying modern languages, French and German, gaining a 3rd class BA in 1934

In 1935 and 1936 his address was Connaught Club, Paddington, London. He was in civilian life a Chartered Accountant.





28/4/1939 to 2nd Lieutenant - 23/1/1914 to Lieutenant - 5/5/1942 to Temp Captain.

He died Aislaby Hall, Whitby Q1-1944 9d:439a residence given as Thurston Lodge. He died from suffocation and injuries received in an accidental fire at Aislaby Hall. nquest 10th and 17th January 1944.

The Bury Free Press of 15th January 1944 reported:-
OFFICERS' BILLET ON FIRE - Tragic Death of Major Grigg

A well known West Suffolk family had been bereaved by the tragic death of Major R.F.S.Grigg, the only son of the Hon Mrs Grigg and the late Major R.M.Grigg, of Thurston lodge and formerly of Kentford Lodge. He was aged 31 and was single
He lost his life, as did another Major, when officers' billets in a large hall near Whitby, Yorks, were destroyed by fire on Saturday. Two bodies were recovered after prolonged search by fireman, police and soldiers, and five other persons,including a Brigadier who jumped from a window, a Lieut.Colonel and a Captain, are in hospital suffering from shock and burns.
Repeated efforts to reach the two Majors, who, it is believed were asleep in an upper room, were made by a Capt.Burt, but he was overcome by smoke and heat. Two firemen who tried to reach the officers were also beaten back. The remains of Major Grigg were cremated at Ipswich Crematorium on Wednesday. Following formal evidence of identification, an inquest on the two bodies was adjourned until January 17th.




Ronald is commemorated on the screen wall at Ipswich Crematorium

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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