Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ypres Town Cemetery | Flanders | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.124 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 9B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Mentioned in Despatches Queen's South Africa Medal 4 Clasps | ||
Family :
Born Taraahur, Ajmere in 1874, third son of Col. J. G. E. Griffith (Indian Staff Corps) and Mrs. Griffith; husband of Florence Ethel Griffith, of 29, Park Place, Cheltenham. He was a keen sportsman and fond of all games and sports, particularly football and polo, pigsticking, hunting and big-game shooting. He won the Gujerat pony point-to-point in 1910, and the Staff College point-to-point in 1900. He played in the Indian Cavalry Polo Tournament for his regiment in 1911, and he carried off prizes in every assault-at-arms and gymkhana in which he competed.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 32nd Lancers, 9th Cavalry Brigade Indian Army |
| Action : The Battles of Ypres 1915 (Second Ypres) |
22 April - 25 May 1915. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans used poison gas at Ypres. This was the first 'official' use of gas and took the Allies by surprise. After initial success capitalising on the confusion and horror of this weapon, a heroic stand, initially by the Canadians and then supported by British and Indian Battalions, held the German advance. However it became clear that the Germans had achieved a tactical advantage and eventually the British were forced to retire to more a more defendable perimeter closer to Ypres. These positions were on the last ridges before Ypres and their loss would have resulted in the loss of the town and possibly open the Channel coast to German occupation with disastrous consequences for the re-supply of the BEF.
Captain, Poona (1903). Major John Gwynne GRIFFITH, 32nd Lancers and Brigade Major. 9th Cavalry Brigade.
Detail :
He returned to India in 1913, and was home on leave when war broke out. He joined the 7th Cavalry Reserve at Tidworth, and on 18 October 1914 was gazetted DAA & QMG 2nd Cavalry Division becoming Brigade Major, 9th Cavalry Brigade, by special request of the General Officer Commanding.
He went to France on 20 October 1914 and was killed instantaneously S.E. of Ypres, 24 May 1915 while giving orders to his Brigade. General Greenly wrote : "He was a brave, good soldier, an unfailing cheery companion, and the kindliest and most sympathetic of friends, the sort of English gentleman who has made the Empire what it is", and added, "the loss to me is not only that of a perfectly invaluable staff officer, but of a very great friend, with whom I have been associated now. as you know, for a very considerable time, both on the staff together of the 2nd Cavalry Division and in this Brigade. On active service one gets to know ones friends in a few months or sometimes even days in a way which years of peace would never bring. I can only say that in these months of sometimes hard and strenuous times I have got to know and value and love your husband in a way which it is difficult to convey to you A brother officer wrote The old regiment fairly bursts with pride even when we are saddest. I never saw anything like the feeling shown by the Indians, they all loved Johnnie, even as we all looked forward to the day when he got command. What a wonderful C.O. he would have made. Major Griffith was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French's Despatch of 31 May, 1915 for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
He is buried in the Ypres Town Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial. He is also commemorated at St Peter's Church, Leckhampton on the grave of his parents.
Citations & Commemorations :
The Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, writing to his widow on hearing of his death, said : "Major Griffith's extensive military knowledge, his capacity and soldierly attributes, combined with his charming personality, provided an inspiring example and earned him the respect of all ranks of the Australian Army."See also: Imperial War Museum Collection.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lodge Orion in the West No. 415 E.C. | India |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
19th August 1903 | 29th September 1903 | 7th November 1903 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley