Bernard was the only child of John James Grime Lodge (solicitor) and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Preston) born at Dent, Yorkshire on March 23rd 1894. The couple had married on April 26th 1893. Bernard’s mother died when her son was 3 years old. She was only 31 at the time of her death.
In 1901 Bernard and his father were living as boarders with William Balderstone (brother in law) and his wife at Yorebridge House, near Askrigg. This arrangement continued for some years whilst Bernard himself (aged 17 in 1911) was a pupil at Giggleswick School.
Bernard was educated at Yorebridge Grammar School and Giggleswick School, he entered Messrs. Barclays Bank and joined Royal Fusiliers UPS (service no 5862) in December 1914.
He was in the front line with them as a private in April 1915 and was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant on 09/08/1916.
The following Information is from the De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour :-
“Bernard was born at Dent, Cumbria on 23 March 1894. He was educated at Mister Yard School, York, Yorebridge Grammar School and Giggleswick School, Settle. He entered the employment of Barclay’s Bank. He enlisted in December 1914 in the 19th Universities and Public Schools Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. He served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders from November 1915; returned to England and joined an Officers Cadet Corps; obtained a commission in the Special reserve of Officers in August 1916; returned to France and was attached to 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry; became battalion Bombing Officer and Intelligence Officer; he was killed in action 24/08/1917 at Inverness Copse.
His Colonel wrote “It is with deepest sympathy that I write to tell you of the death in action of your charming boy who was my Intelligence Officer. A braver, cooler, more reliable officer could not be found. He had done wonderfully gallant work on patrol on numerous occasions and whatever the job he had to do I could absolutely rely on him doing it thoroughly. I know of no other officer in the battalion I could have spared less than he. He was as brave as a lion. We were counter attacked at 4.30 am on the 24th and I turned out all the men at H.Q. He, without any orders, dashed off with the leading men right up to the front where danger threatened. I don’t know how I will replace him as not only was he valuable as an officer but I was very fond of him as were all of us.” His Adjutant wrote “We shall never get another bombing Officer up to his standard.” Another officer wrote “I cannot tell you how much we miss your lad. He was one of the capable and certainly the most popular and coolest officer that served with us since the formation of the battalion. It will be some time before we get used to the loss of his charming personality. From my own point, I simply loved him; we were very much together. Even now I cannot realise he is gone from us.” He was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette Issue No. 30441 21 December 1917) by F.M. Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
An amount of £325 7s 11d was left to his father.
Bernard is listed on Tyne Cot Memorial alongside 35001 of his comrades.
Recipient of the 1915 Star the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Bernard Grime Lodge is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 223
He is also remembered on the Plaque and Roll of Honour Head Office Barclays Bank Giggleswick School Chapel WW1 Memorial, War Memorial 1914-18 St Oswald’s Church Askrigg.
In St Oswalds Church Askrigg is a marble plaque with the following inscription :-
In Loving/And Honoured Memory of/Bernard Grime Lodge/2nd Lieut 4th Durham Light Infantry/Killed In Action/At Inverness Copse In Flanders/While Attached To The 10th DLI/24th August 1917, Aged 23 Years/(Mentioned In Despatches)/For They Are Thine O Lord,/Thou Lover Of Souls
