De Ruvigney Roll of Honour Vol. 3 page 121
Berwick Advertiser
Patrick Liddell Grey was the eldest boy of 4 children. Born at Silver Street, Berwick, on the 4th January 1893, the son of Major James Liburn Grey, [born Berwick-on-Tweed, 14th February 1856, baptised on the 21st March 1856, died 1st June 1940 at 'Moorside House' Tweedmouth, he was the son of James Grey, born 1818, died 1900, and his wife Catherine Dodds, born 1821, died March 1898], and his 2nd wife Beatrix Mary, [nee Riddle]. They resided at Beatrix's family home at Moorside House, Tweedmouth in Northumberland.
In 1881 James Liburn Grey was residing at 46 Hide Hill, working as a Wine merchant.
In April 1883 James married Janet Georgina Haig Grahame, {daughter of Thomas Jordan born 1820 and his wife Euphemia Graham, born 1818}, who was born on the 22nd January 1855, baptised 5th February 1855, and died 10th August 1887, they had one child Euphemia Graham Grey, [born December 1885 and died 2nd December 1959 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she was residing at 2 Swinton Terrace, North Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she became the wife of George Lennox Batty. She died in the Newcastle General Hospital. She left to her only son George Lennox Batty the younger, a mechanical engineer the sum of £6746 16s 5d].
In 1891, James Lilburn Grey married a second time to Beatrix Mary Riddle, in October 1891, [born 16th January 1858, and died 7th May 1940, left in August 1940, the effects of £2392 1s 1d left to Catherine Fair Grey & James Grey in her will], prior to this, he was a widower residing at 45 Woolmarket, working as a travelling wine merchant.
In 1939, James and his wife Beatrix were still residing at Moorside, Etal Road, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, with Catherine their daughter.
They had three children, Patrick Riddle, Catharine Fair, [born 18th May 1894, baptised 16th July 1894, died September 1981] and William Lilburn, [born 1897 died September 1939].
James was a member of the 1st Berwick-upon-Tweed Volunteer Corps [artillery]. His promotion from lieutenant to captain is recorded in the London Gazette of 12th May 1896 as is the granting of his honorary rank of Major on 16th June 1896. He resigned his commission on 30th November 1901 with permission to retain his rank and wear the uniform. He was also awarded the Volunteer Officer’s Decoration.
Patrick's early education was at the Avenue Academy, Berwick, under the head, Mr William Patterson. Patrick and his brother William Liburn Grey attended Heriot Watt College at Edinburgh University studying to be mining engineers. They were lodging at Mrs Todd at Marchmont Crescent.
Patrick was a very keen rower and a prominent member of the Berwick Amateur Rowing Club.
Patrick enlisted on the 25th May 1915 and was an OTC Cadet at Edinburgh University, where he was attached to the Engineer section and also rode.
He went out to Alexandria with a draft of the Lancashire Regiment in June 1915, and after having served in various stations in the Mediterranean theatre of operations was drafted to the 8th Northumberland Fusiliers with whom he proceeded to Suez.
In May 1916, Patrick was in Egypt as a platoon commander when Montie Carlisle was promoted to Captain and given command of 'X' Company. Carlisle wrote almost daily to his wife and a selection (from 500) letters were published by his son in 1989 under the title 'My Own Darling'. Grey is mentioned in these letters several times, 7th May 1916 – one of ‘four very nice fellows’ 17th July 1916 – they were sharing a small billet. 24th July – Grey was in the trenches and missed a small dinner party. 13th August 1916 – Grey was on a Lewis Gun course. 24th August 1916 – Carlisle, Grey and two others clubbed together (£1 each) to order some goods from Fortnum & Mason.
The book records the regiment’s movements as follows [locations in the letters were often censored].
At the beginning of July they left Ferdan in Egypt, sailing on the Llandovery Castle ship number 135302, from Alexandria to Marseilles.
14th July Penin, moving on 17th July, 20th July Bretoncourt (1000 yards from the trenches), 30th July Trenches 180-192 F Sector 4K 6W. 21st August Monchiet, 22nd August Grande Rulle Court.
The War Diary of the 8th Northumberland Fusiliers gives their locations as follows.
1st September Houvin, 4th September Puchevillers, 8th September Bouzincourt, 17th September La Boiselle, 23rd September Englebelmer, On the 25th September the Battalion relieved the 6th York & Lancaster in the front line trenches R.33 b.5.9, R.27 d.9.1, R.28 c.2.1 [ref map France 57D SE].
The congestion in the trenches was considerable. The night was exceptionally quiet. A rum issue was made half an hour before the assault. The Battalion HQ was at Pozieres Cemetery. At Zero hour 12:35pm the troops left the trenches and almost immediately the enemy’s barrage started on the front line, also considerable machine gun fire from the Moquet Farm and Zollern Redoubt. An inspection of the ground on the next day showed that many men were killed within 40 yards of the front line and some were hit whilst getting out of the trenches. The casualties in these operations were as follows: 19 Officers Patrick’s Commanding Officer later wrote to his parents It would appear that your son was hit very soon after getting over the parapet and would not allow anyone to stop and bind him up. 430 other ranks (approx).
Grey was killed in this action and Carlisle was wounded.
The War Office sent a telegram dated 30th September:To Major Grey, Moorside House, Berwick.
Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut P R Grey 15th att 8th Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action Sep 26. The Army Council expresses their sympathy.
Tributes were paid by the Company Commander and Chaplain who referred to him as a real good fellow and a good soldier. A brother officer wrote His loss is one which will not easily be replaced either in the mess or in the company.'
Berwick Advertiser 06/10/1916.
The sad intelligence was received in the town on Saturday night that second lieutenant Patrick Riddle Grey, second son of Major & Mrs Grey Moorside House, Tweedmouth had given his life for his country on the battlefield of Picardy on September 26.
He has never been home on leave since proceeding overseas and had only been two months in France when he received his fatal wound. As a sportsman 'Pat' chiefly devoted his interest to rowing and as an active member of the BARC earned for himself a reputation as stroke in the fours. He took part at the local and North Country Regattas and was one of the most popular lads in the club. The sympathy of all goes out to Major & Mrs Grey in their great loss.
Grey’s body was found on the 29th September and buried by a fatigue party. The grave was lost during subsequent fighting and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B).
Patrick Liddle Grey is remembered at Berwick-on-Tweed on B25.01 and B25.22
