GRUBB William Samuel

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

William Grubb enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 9th November 1915 at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  On his attestation paper he gave his date of birth as 20th March 1888 in Worcestershire, his profession as a car conductor and his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Mary Ann Davis, 127 Highfields, Wichenford, Worcestershire, England.  He had 2 years previous military experience with the 13th Royal Rifles.  William was 5ft 6ins, tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion.

William was promoted to Corporal on 31st December 1915, Lance Sergeant on 9th February 1916 and Sergeant on 27th March 1916.  He lost two days pay in July 1916 for being absent without leave.  One assumes he was also demoted as he was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 14th August 1916.  William sailed from Halifax, Canada on the S.S. Empress of Britain on 14th August 1916, arriving in Liverpool, England on 24th August 1916.  In November 1916 he reverted back to the rank of Private prior to proceeding overseas.  On 1st April 1917, whilst in France, he was appointed Lance Corporal.  William was killed in action just 8 days later.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3865 – 9

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Lance Corporal William Samuel Grubb:
“Killed in Action” Attack at Vimy

The birth of William Samuel Grubb is registered in the March Quarter 1886 under the Martley Registration District.  He was baptised in Martley Parish Church on 14th November 1886, son of Mary Ann Grubb, The Leap, Doddenham.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 19th May 1917:
Martley Man Killed
Sergt. William Grubb, of the Canadian Infantry, who fell on Vimy Ridge was 31 years of age.  He was the eldest son of Mrs Davies, Highfields, Martley.  He attended the village school, and for some time was employed at Kidderminster Railway Station.  He went to Canada about seven years ago. Mrs Davies has other sons serving, Pte. Sidney Grubb and Sergt. A Davies, both in the Worcestershire Regt. while another son, Frederick, has been wounded and discharged.

The following information 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.

The same photograph of Sergeant W, Grubb of Martley can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 19th May 1917, Saturday 10th November 1917 and Saturday 6th July 1918, available at Worcestershire Archives.