Samuel James Grimmer

A Private with the 21st Battalion, Samuel died on 24th of November at the age of 20. 

Samuel was born at Mundham, Norfolk, in 1897, a son of Samuel and Emily Elizabeth Grimmer. In 1901 his family lived at 31 The Street, Lound, and by 1911 they were living at Lound Street, Blundeston, and Samuel was a farm labourer. Later his mother lived at 71 Northumberland Street, Norwich, before moving to Hunters Cottages, Kessingland Beach.

Samuel enlisted in the Army at Norwich. He joined the Middlesex Regiment, service number G/24464, and was posted to the 23rd Battalion in France.  

Samuel received a shrapnel wound to his shoulder and on 7 May 1917 he was being treated at 10 Casualty Clearing Station. Subsequently he was posted to the 21st Battalion. 

On 23 November 1917 the 21st Battalion moved into assembly positions near Bourlon Wood in readiness for an attack, with tanks, later that day: part of the Battle of Cambrai. During the 24th November elements of the battalion supported the 13th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and the 12th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. At various points the battalion’s work was hampered by enemy strong points and machine-gun fire. The battalion was also subject to heavy shelling throughout the day. 

Between 23 and 26 November the battalion sustained the following casualties:
Officers: two killed, eight wounded
Other ranks: 20 killed, 7 missing, 96 wounded, 3 shell-shock

Samuel was killed in action on 24 November.