Photo: Dorothy Hall

24800439 Fusilier
Andrew J. Grundy
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
1st May 1992 Age 22

Dearly loved son
brother and uncle

The Newcastle Journal 02/05/1992 reports:-

Soldier killed in IRA bomb blast

The parents of IRA bomb victim Andrew Grundy hope to bury him alongside his soldier brother who also died while serving Queen and country. Fusilier Grundy, 22, of Cleves Avenue, Ferryhill, County Durham, was killed yesterday in a huge explosion which wrecked a security checkpoint on the main Belfast to Dublin road.

It was the second tragedy to hit the family in eight months last year Andrew's brother Phillip, 22, was killed in a road crash in Germany where he was serving with the Scots Dragoon Guards.

Devastated father Eric, 47, said last night: "We would like to see the boys together if that's possible and bury Andrew alongside Phillip."

"We last spoke to Andrew just a few hours before he died and he was very happy talking about a girl from Northern Ireland he was going out with and who he wanted to bring home to meet us."

His wife May, 46, added: "When Phillip died we moved house to be nearer the cemetery where he is buried.

"You couldn't print what I think about the men who have done this to Andrew."

The Fusilier died a hero, shouting a warning to comrades and police officers as the massive bomb thundered towards the checkpoint on a railway line. Terrorists had held a couple hostage as they loaded the 1000 lb bomb on to a railway bogie and sent it rolling towards the heavily defended checkpoint. Andrew caught the full force of the blast which left a 20ft crater, damaged a dozen homes, a Roman Catholic church and school and injured two other soldiers.

His commanding officer, Lt-Col Simon Sanderson, praised Andrew's courage: "The professionalism displayed was of the highest order and did much to minimise the effects of the tragedy."

The Grundys have four other sons, two of whom are in the armed forces. Andrew's twin brother Carl, 22, a soldier with the Green Howards, said: "Andrew had a job to do and went out there to do it. He was a good soldier and brother and I will miss him."

Newcastle Journal 09/05/1992 reports:-

Tragic family buries a second soldier son

Too much blood has been spilled in Northern Ireland, a priest said yesterday as he led the funeral service of IRA bomb victim Fusilier Andrew Grundy.

The single bell of St Luke's Church, Ferryhill, County Durham, tolled its lonely tribute to the young soldier whose last action helped save the lives of his friends and colleagues. The hero was buried beside his soldier brother Phillip of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who died in an accident in Germany last year.

His twice-bereaved family mother May, father Eric and twin brother Carl, a soldier in the Green Howards held each other for support during the service in the packed church. The Rev Keith Lumsden paid tribute to the 22-year old Royal Fusilier. "We pray that a political solution will and must be found with the greatest of speed because it is only a political solution in Ireland that can bring a lasting peace," he said. "Too much blood has already been spilled on both sides and a prerequisite for any solution must be the cessation of all violence ."

Fus Grundy, who joined the Army in 1989, was killed earlier this month when the IRA loaded a 1000 lb bomb on a railway bogie and sent it rolling towards his heavily defended checkpoint on the main Belfast to Dublin road. He stayed to shout a warning to colleagues and took the full impact of the blast.

Yesterday, after the military funeral commanding officer Lt Col Simon Sanderson said: "We have been saddened by the loss of Fusilier Grundy who was a credit to his company, his comrades and all Fusiliers and his family and we are all extremely proud of him. "Fusilier Grundy realised that the terrorists were delivering a bomb and remained to sound the alarm, thereby alerting all the other soldiers and probably saving many of their lives."

Andrew and Phillip are buried side by side in Ferryhill Cemetery.