GRUBB F C

The initial ‘F’ C. on Martley War Memorial is incorrect and should read ‘E’ C.

Ernest Christopher Grubb was born in Martley in 1889, he was baptised in Martley Parish Church on 10th August 1889. On the night of the census Ernest, aged 21, is a boarder at a house in Lea Street, Kidderminster working as a horse attendant with the great Western Railway Company.

The following entry appears in the United Parish Magazine, St Peter’s Church, Martley, July 1917:
Ernest Grubb is reported drowned whilst bathing in training camp; he and his brother William are sad losses to his mother Mrs Davis.

No record of a casualty with this name can be found on Commonwealth War Graves Commission or Soldiers Died in the Great War.

A photograph of Private E. Grubb of Martley can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 10th November 1917, available at Worcestershire History Centre.

Ernest’s brother, Frederick Thomas Grubb commenced at Martley School on 14th February 1899. His date of birth in the school admission records is given as 8th December 1891, Mrs Davies is named as his parent or guardian. He left school on 17th December 1905 to start work. Frederick appears on the 1911 Martley census, aged 19.

A medal card for a Private Frederick Thomas Grubb 27601, Worcestershire Regiment, may relate to Ernest’s brother. The card shows his date of enlistment as 31st March 1916., his date of discharge for Sickness is shown as 10th November 1916.

The same photograph of a Private F. Grubb of Martley appears in Berrow’s Worcester Journal of 10th November 1917 and 6th July 1918, both stating that he has been wounded with the additional information in 1918 that he has been discharged.