Basil Walker Griffin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Basil was the son of Rev Horation John Griffin and Emily (née Shaw) Sarah . In 1901 Emily was already a widow and the family were living at 162 Moorgate Retford. In 1911 Basil was 15 years of age and a pupil at St John's Foundation School for The Sons of Poor Clergy Of The Church Of England Epsom Road Leatherhead. His brother Private Randle Newcombe Griffin (Service number 766202, CWGC number 1568663) was killed in action aged 30 on 19/5/1917 serving with 19th Bn Canadian Infantry. He was the husband of Katherine McRae Griffin of 230 Willow Avenue Toronto.
His medal card shows he served at first as a Lance Corporal in the Middlesex Regiment and later with the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and that he first saw service in France on 17th November 1915. he was killed in action on 2nd December 1917 and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial , Zonnebeke, Belgium. He was entitled to the three medals 1915 Star, The Victory Medal and the British War medal.
Lieut Basil W Griffin Retford Times 21st December 1917 As briefly announced in our last issue, Second-Lieut basil Walker griffin, youngest son of the Rev H J and Mrs Griffiin of Broxholme Rectory, Saxilby, Lincoln, and formerly of Littleborough, was killed in France on Dec 2nd. This gallant young officer was 22 years of age. He was educated at St John's, leatherhead. At the beginning of the war he joined the Middlesex Regt (Public Schools battalion) and saw much active service in France. After training he received a commission in the Lincoln Regt, in June of this year. His Colonel says;- " he was one of my most promising officers, and one I felt I could fall back on to replace more senior officers if required. He always behaved in a most gallant manner, and died a most gallant death leading his company, of which he was in command at the time of the attack." Much sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs Griffin in their sad bereavement.
