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4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards
| Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards? There are:5239 items tagged 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards during the Great War 1914-1918. - Attridge George Stephen. Pte (d.13th April 1918)
- Cockerill Alfred. Pte.
- Cowens John Thomas. Pte. (d.6th Jul 1916)
- Emmott Lawrence. Pte. (d.1st Dec 1917)
- Fletcher Samuel Edwards. Pte. (d.17th April 1918)
- Fletcher Samuel E.. (d.17th Apr 1918)
- Leggott Robert Henry. Pte. (d.25th September 1916)
- Leggott Robert Henry. Cpl. (d.25th Sep 2016)
- Lewis George W.. Pte.
- Liddle Samuel. Pte.
- Mills Lees. L/Cpl. (d.23rd Mar 1918)
- Paton VC MC. George Henry Tatham. Cpt. (d.1st Dec 1917)
- Pilch Thomas. Pte. (d.12th Oct 1917)
- Pryce VC MC. Thomas Tannatt. Capt. (d.13th Apr 1918)
- Railton William. Pte. (d.2nd Sep 1917)
- Richardson Samuel. Pte. (d.28th April 1918)
- Richardson Samuel. Pte. (d.28th April 1918)
- Rymer Robert George. Sgt. (d.6th July 1916)
- Shiner William Albert. Gdsm. (d.2nd Dec 1917)
- Taylor Charles William. Pte (d.13th April 1918)
- Underwood David. Pte. (d.29th Sep 1916)
- West George Jesse. Pte. (d.13th April 1918)
- Wood Walter William. Pte. (d.14th November 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards from other sources.
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- 22nd April 2024
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Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Gdsm. William Albert Shiner 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards (d.2nd Dec 1917) William Albert Shiner was 22 when he died during the battle of Cambrai. He was married to my great Aunt. They had been married for just over a year when he died. His family were farmers at Cleeve in North Somerset.
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Cpl. Robert Henry Leggott 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.25th Sep 2016)  The first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st of July 1916, is known as the worst day in the history of the British Army, with nearly 60,000 men, all volunteers, killed, wounded or listed as missing. The campaign, which only ended 141 days later, saw more than 400,000 British casualties, and the scarred communities they left behind were determined to mark their loss, erecting memorials to the dead.
Those in Yorkshire show how the war affected almost all communities, from tiny rural villages to the big industrial cities of Bradford, Sheffield and Leeds. Among those receiving Grade II listing from Historic England for the first time is the simple stone marker at Commondale in the North York Moors, that represents the sacrifice of just two men, boyhood friends and fellow shepherds Robert Leggott and Alfred Cockerill.
The pair signed up together in 1914, with Leggott, who was just 17, lying about his age to enlist. He was killed at the Somme on September 25, 2016, and his body was never found. In 1920, Lady Gisborough, who was horrified at the loss of the two local shepherds, had the Shepherd's Memorial erected on Gisborough Moor above the village of Commondale.
Robbie's family continues to farm on the moors to this day, his great-nephew James Johnson being responsible for providing this information.
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Pte. Lawrence Emmott 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.1st Dec 1917) Lawrence Emmott was the son of Charles Emmott a famous rugby player who played for England and his County in the 1890's.
Lawrence was about 19 when he died. His brother Alfred John Emmott was also killed during the war on 27th September 1918.
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Pte. Thomas Pilch 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.12th Oct 1917) Buried at Tyne Cot Belgium
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Pte. George W. Lewis 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards My grandfather, George W Lewis served in the Great War. I have a photograph of him with the 4th Battalion of Grenadier Guards 1917. I have been searching for information and would love to know more.
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Pte. Walter William Wood 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards (d.14th November 1916) Walter Wood is my great uncle. He had no wife or children when he died.
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Pte. William Railton 4th Battalion (d.2nd Sep 1917) William Railton died of injuries received at the 61st Casualty Clearing Station on the 2nd September 1917, after joining in or around October 1916 in Colne, Lancs.
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Samuel E. Fletcher 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.17th Apr 1918) My Great Grandfather Samuel E Fletcher serving with the 4th Grenadier Guards, 16th Platoon was captured near La Couronne on the 14th of April during the Battle of Hazebrouk. He later died on the 17th of his wounds to the spine.
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Pte. Samuel Edwards Fletcher 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.17th April 1918) Samuel Fletcher served in the Duke of Lancasters Imperial Yeomanry and gained the rank of Colour Seargent. He earned the Queen Victoria Boer War Medal with 4 bars.
Samuel enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Guards in 1916 and served with 4th Company. He was reported missing April 13th 1918 and was reported to have died April 17th 1918 while a captive of the Germans. He died of a spinal injury and is buried in the Tourcoing Military Cemetery.
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Pte. Robert Henry Leggott 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards (d.25th September 1916) The Commondale Village WWI Commemoration booklet list two Commondale men who went to London in 1914 and joined the 4th Btn Grenadier Guards.
The information below is attributed to Franka and taken from this publication:
Robert Leggott 19208 joined the 4th Btn Grenadier Guards at the same time and was killed on 25th September 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
His friend Alfred Cockrill 19205 died at Chalfont Colony, The National Society for the Employment of Epileptics, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire on the 20 August 1920 as a result of a gun shot wound to the head suffered while serving with the 4th Btn in July 1916.
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Pte. Alfred Cockerill 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards The Commondale Village WWI Commemoration booklet lists two Commondale men who went to London in 1914 and joined the 4th Bn Grenadier Guards.
The information below is attributed to Franka and taken from this publication:
Alfred Cockrill 19205 died at Chalfont Colony, The National Society for the Employment of Epileptics, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire on the 20th August 1920 as a result of a gun shot wound to the head suffered while serving with the 4th Btn in July 1916.
His friend Robert Leggot 19208 joined the 4th Btn Grenadier Guards at the same time and was killed on 25 September 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
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Pte. Samuel Richardson 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.28th April 1918) Samuel Richardson Died of Wounds as Prisoner of War on 28th of April 1918, aged 32 and is buried in the Hamburg Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Germany.
He was the husband of Christiana Richardson, of 27, Ulster St., Burnley, Lancashire
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Cpt. George Henry Tatham Paton VC MC. 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.1st Dec 1917)  Captain George Paton VC MM served with the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards and died on the 1st December 1917, aged 22. He is buried in the Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery in France.
He was the son of George William and Etta Tatham Paton, of Wolviston House, Whyteleafe, Surrey
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 12th Feb. 1918, records the following:-
"For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When a unit on his left was driven back, thus leaving, his flank in the air and his company practically surrounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to re-adjust the line, walking up and down within fifty yards of the enemy under a withering fire. He personally removed several wounded men, and was the last to leave the village. Later, he again re-adjusted the line, exposing himself regardless of all danger the whole time, and when the enemy four times counter-attacked he sprang each time upon the parapet, deliberately risking his life, and being eventually mortally wounded, in order to stimulate his command. After the enemy had broken through on his left, he again mounted the parapet, and with a few men, who were inspired by his great example, forced them once more to withdraw, thereby undoubtedly saving the left flank."
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Pte. David Underwood 4th Btn. (d.29th Sep 1916) My Granddad, David Underwood was killed at the Somme, remembered with honour at Thiepval Memorial. He has no known grave.
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Capt. Thomas Tannatt Pryce VC MC. 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.13th Apr 1918)  Captain Thomas Pryce served with the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards during WW1 and was killed in action on the 13th April, aged 32. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
He was the son of Thomas and Rosalie S. Pryce, of Pentreheylin Hall Mont; husband of Margaret Sybil Pryce, of Craufurd Lodge, Maidenhead, Berks.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 21st May, 1918, records the following-
For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice when in command of a flank on the left of the Grenadier Guards. Having been ordered to attack a village he personally led forward two platoons, working from house to house, killing some thirty of the enemy, seven of whom he killed himself. The next day he was occupying a position with some thirty to forty men, the remainder of his company having become casualties. As early as 8.15 a.m., his left flank was surrounded and the enemy was enfilading him. He was attacked no less than four times during the day, and each time beat off the hostile attack, killing many of the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy brought three field guns to within 300 yards of his line, and were firing over open sights and knocking his trench in. At 6.15 p.m., the enemy had worked to within sixty yards of his trench. He then called on his men, telling them to cheer and charge the enemy and fight to the last. Led by Captain Pryce, they left their trench and drove back the enemy with the bayonet some 100 yards. Half an hour later the enemy had again approached in stronger force. By this time Captain Pryce had only 17 men left, and every round of his ammunition had been fired. Determined that there should be no surrender, he once again led his men forward in a bayonet charge, and was last seen engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. With some forty men he had held back at least one enemy battalion for over ten hours. His company undoubtedly stopped the advance through the British line, and thus had great influence on the battle.
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Sgt. Robert George Rymer 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.6th July 1916) Robert Rymer served with the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards during WW1. He died on the 6th July 1916, aged 24 and is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2 in Belgium.
He was the son of Joseph William and Rhoda Ann Rymer, of Fairfield, Stogursey, Bridgwater, Somerset.
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Pte. Samuel Richardson 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.28th April 1918) Samuel Richardson died of wounds as Prisoner of War 28th April 1918, aged 32. He is buried in the Hamburg Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Germany.
He was the husband of Christiana Richardson, of 27, Ulster St., Burnley, Lancashire.
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L/Cpl. Lees Mills 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.23rd Mar 1918) Lees Mills served with the Grenadier Guards 4th Battalion and died on 23rd March 1918.
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Pte. John Thomas Cowens 4th Btn Grenadier Guards (d.6th Jul 1916) John Cowans died age 32 whilst serving with the 4th Btn Grenadier Guards. He was born in Jarrow in 1884 Son of Thomas and Isabella Cowens (nee Gibson)
He was native of Bishopton, Ferryhill. John Thomas Cowens age 27, bricklayer, listed as living with his parents Thomas and Isabella Cowens and family at Bishopton, Ferryhill on the 1911 census.
He enlisted in West Hartlepool.
John is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2.
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Pte. Samuel Liddle 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards My grandfather, Samuel Liddle, was born 10/9/1889 and enlisted to the Grenadier Guards pre-war in 1907 on his 18th birthday. His peacetime service was spent with 2nd Bttn in 1907 at Aldershot, 1908 Wellington Barracks London, 1909 in Chelsea Barracks London and 1910 Wellington Barracks where he would have carried out Palace Duties.
In October 1914 he was recalled to The Colours where he went with 1st Bttn to France and was counted as one of the "Old Contemptibles" disembarking at Zeebrugge from the "Turcoman" at 6am on 7th Oct 1914.
He served with 1st Bttn Guards 20th Infantry Brigade under Maj Gen T. Capper at 1st Ypres from 20th - 28th October 1914.He returned to England in 1915 on leave then was sent back to France to join 4th Bttn and remained with them till the end of the war and was discharged in February 1919. On 1/5/1918 he suffered "Gas shell poisoning".
My Grandfather was just an average soldier, no hero as such but by the sheer fact that he served his King and Country in the most horrific conflict ever he is considered by his family as a hero. He was, according to his service history absent on several occasions often referred to as cowardice (maybe?)(wrongly in most peoples opinion considering the horror) due to drunkenness! He served the full term of the war and died in the 1950's as an indirect result of the gassing in 1918.
I am currently trying to research his campaigns and movements and have been sent some very interesting documents from my sister Lynne who still lives in the UK so will update as soon as I can.
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