Chester-le-Street Chronicle
Pauline Priano has supplied the following:-
William Grundy was born in Annitsford, Northumberland, one of 12 children, 4 boys, 4 girls and 4 deceased. born to Thomas Grundy 1867 Hauagh Engley, Lancashire and his wife Ellen Wilcock nee Mayers 1870 Leigh, Lancashire a widow whom he married in Leigh, March 1891. Ellen had a daughter Agnes from her previous marriage. Thomas and Ellen migrated north setting in Annitsford, Northumberland but had moved by 1901 now living at New Square, Seghill. Thomas worked as a coal miner - hewer, by 1911 at the age of 17 William was working at the colliery as a putter.
Records are not available to deduce if William moved to the Stanley area alone or with his family but he enlisted in Stanley in November 1914 as Private 923 and was assigned to the 26th Battalion, Tyneside Irish Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals battalion. In March 1915 they moved from Newcastle to Woolsington and formed part of the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. Taken over by the War Office August 27th 1915 they moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916. The preparations for the Battle of the Somme were already underway and the 26th Brigade as part of the 34th Division first saw action on the first day on the Somme, attacking the Albert-Bapaume road at La Boiselle. It was during this attack July 1st 1916 that Private 923 William Grundy Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action. William is interred at Ovillers Military Cemetery, IV. F. 1. He was 22 years old and single.
His father Thomas received all monies due to him along with a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Grundy is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04