London 25th Regt

Francis Reginald GRIMWOOD

Medal card : (1) Capt. - 1/17th London Regt. (2) Maj - 1/25th London Regt. (3) Lt/Col - 20th London Regt. Served France from 7.3.15.
Medal Card address - H.Q. 17th Lond R., 66 Tredegar? Rd, Bow, E.

London Gazette (Supplement) - 21 Feb 1918, pg.2299.
Maj. F.R. Grimwood, D.S.O., Lond. Regt. to be agtg. Lt.-Col. whilst comdg. Bn. !8th Dec 1917.

It is not known how long Francis served in the 25th Bn. London Regt. It was whilst with the 1/20th London that he was captured near Ytres on the 24th March 1918 following the German offensive near St Quentin :-
"At 4PM the 63rd Division unexpectedly retired and the 20th Battalion were left practically surrounded. They then fought their way back towards Le Transloy, but were under close-range fire from three sides and very few of the battalion reached Le Transloy at dusk. Lieut-Colonel Grimwood and his Adjutent were entirely cut off and captured."
[The History of The 47th (London) Division, 1914-1919 - Edited By Alan H. Maude, 1922, pg.160.]

He was sent to mines in Germany where he remained until the end of the war. The war diaries of the 1/20th London also state that the CO remained behind ensuring that as many of his men escaped as possible.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) some time before Feb 1918..

London Gazette (Supplement) - 19 Jun 1918, pg.7274.
Maj. (actg. Lt.-Col.) F.R. Grimwood, D.S.O., relinquishes his actg. rank on ceasing to command a Bn. 25th Mar 1918. [N.B. the day after his capture].

Acknowledgements to Nick Wickens (the grandson)