Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Private Samuel Grindrod, 27, was one of two Auburn Memorial man who married in England while serving in the AIF. A native of Manchester, United Kingdom, Grindrod was single when he enlisted in Sydney in October 1915. It is not clear why he spent 10 months in Australia before embarking on the Wiltshire in August 1916, as he had no crimes or sicknesses recorded for this period.
After arriving in Plymouth on 13 October 1916, Grindrod was married on 15 November in Rochdale, Lancashire, the birthplace of his wife Maud. A month after his wedding, Grindrod proceeded to France and served on the Western Front for well over a year, except for one month leave and hospitalization in the UK for septic foot and cellulitis in December 1917. During February 1918, Grindrod went AWL for four days and had to forfeit nine days’ pay.
Grindrod was killed in action on 7 April 1918 and buried in the vicinity of Hangard Wood. However, after the war, his grave could not be found, so his name was inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux when it was built.
Grindrod’s widow Maud and their son, E A Grindrod, whom Samuel had not met, came to Australia in 1919. In 1921, his medals were forwarded to them at their home on Deakin Street, North Auburn.
Maud and her son were still at the North Auburn address in 1927 when Maud wrote to the authorities stating ‘My son and I are going to sail next month on a visit to his people in England and I wish to visit France if possible and see his grave. I would be pleased if you could furnish me with an address of any hostel I could get in touch with to enable me to travel to France.’ It is not known if she did make a pilgrimage to France, as Grindrod’s body was never found and it would be another 11 years before the Australian National Memorial was built at Villers-Bretonneux and Grindrod’s name inscribed thereon.
In 1967, E A Grindrod, now living in Mona Vale, applied to the authorities for the Anzac Commemorative Medallion and Badge, explaining that his mother was aged and blind. The request was deemed not eligible, as Samuel had not served on Gallipoli.
Samuel Grindrod is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial (His name was added to the memorial after unveiling day, 30 April 1922).
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
