World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was the first British officer to be awarded the Victoria Cross in World War I and received it on September 16, 1914 for his actions on August 24, 1914 while a captain in the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers of the British Army during the Action of Elouges at Andregnies, Belgium. Born one of fifteen children in Surrey, England, his grandfather was an admiral in the British Navy. An accomplished cricket player, he received his education at Eton College in Eton, Berkshire, England and joined the British Army in 1899 where he served as a 2nd lieutenant with the King's Royal Rifle Corps during the Second Boer War in South Africa. After the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he was sent to France with the 9th Lancers and following the Battle of Mons, Belgium, his regiment charged a large body of unbroken German infantry in an effort to check their advance against the British Army's 5th Division and throw them into disarray. Upon the death of the senior officer, he took over and continued to lead them into a murderous fire until they were trapped and forced to retreat. He was wounded during the encounter and of the approximately 300 men who participated in the charge, only about 40 of them survived the ordeal. He then volunteered to assist in moving the field artillery guns belonging to the 119th Battery to safety, while enduring heavy gunfire. The following May he was killed in combat while commanding the left flank of the 9th Lancers near Hooge, Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day." His Victoria Cross is on display at the Regimental Museum of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, England. His twin brother, Riversdale Grenfell, was killed in action in September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I.
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
Son of Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell and Sophia, his wife. Educated at Eton, Francis
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Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
GRENFELL, FRANCIS OCTAVIUS, V.C., Captain, 9th Lancers, 8th son of the late Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell, of Wilton Park, Beaconsfield, by his wife, Sophia, daughter of Vice-Admiral John Pascoe Grenfell, Brazilian I.N., and nephew of Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell, P.C., G.C.B.; G.C.M.G., Field-Marshal; born Hatchlands, Guildford, 4 Sept. 1880; educated Eton (Mr. Durnford's House, 1894-99); received a commission in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 13 Dec. 1899; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant King's Royal Rifle Corps, 4 May, 1901, and Lieutenant 28 Jan. 1905; transferred to 9th Lancers 6 May, 1905; promoted Captain 7 Sept. 1912; was Adjutant 1 Nov. 1912 to 13 Jan. 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1901-2; took part in operations in Cape Colony and Transvaal, 1901, and in those in Orange River Colony, Jan. to 31 May, 1902 (Queen's medal with five clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 Oct. and 16 Nov. 1914] by F.M. Sir John French, and was killed in action, after being twice wounded at Hooge, 24 May, 1915; unmarried. He was awarded the Victoria Cross "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Audregnies, Belgium, on 24 Aug. 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, R.F.A., near Doubon, the same day," being the first officer to receive it in the European War. At Eton he was in the Cricket XI in 1899, and Master of the Beagles. Like his brother, Captain R. N. Grenfell, he was one of the finest polo players of his day. He did much for modern polo with his brother, was in the Champion side several times, and was instrumental in forming the Old Etonians Polo Team, which at one time was nominated as the Polo Cup Challenger. One of the best known men in the army, he enjoyed a popularity that few men achieve.
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
Son of Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell and Sophia, his wife. Educated at Eton, Francis
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Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
GRENFELL, FRANCIS OCTAVIUS, V.C., Captain, 9th Lancers, 8th son of the late Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell, of Wilton Park, Beaconsfield, by his wife, Sophia, daughter of Vice-Admiral John Pascoe Grenfell, Brazilian I.N., and nephew of Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell, P.C., G.C.B.; G.C.M.G., Field-Marshal; born Hatchlands, Guildford, 4 Sept. 1880; educated Eton (Mr. Durnford's House, 1894-99); received a commission in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 13 Dec. 1899; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant King's Royal Rifle Corps, 4 May, 1901, and Lieutenant 28 Jan. 1905; transferred to 9th Lancers 6 May, 1905; promoted Captain 7 Sept. 1912; was Adjutant 1 Nov. 1912 to 13 Jan. 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1901-2; took part in operations in Cape Colony and Transvaal, 1901, and in those in Orange River Colony, Jan. to 31 May, 1902 (Queen's medal with five clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 Oct. and 16 Nov. 1914] by F.M. Sir John French, and was killed in action, after being twice wounded at Hooge, 24 May, 1915; unmarried. He was awarded the Victoria Cross "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Audregnies, Belgium, on 24 Aug. 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, R.F.A., near Doubon, the same day," being the first officer to receive it in the European War. At Eton he was in the Cricket XI in 1899, and Master of the Beagles. Like his brother, Captain R. N. Grenfell, he was one of the finest polo players of his day. He did much for modern polo with his brother, was in the Champion side several times, and was instrumental in forming the Old Etonians Polo Team, which at one time was nominated as the Polo Cup Challenger. One of the best known men in the army, he enjoyed a popularity that few men achieve.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was the first British officer to be awarded the Victoria Cross in World War I and received it on September 16, 1914 for his actions on August 24, 1914 while a captain in the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers of the British Army during the Action of Elouges at Andregnies, Belgium. Born one of fifteen children in Surrey, England, his grandfather was an admiral in the British Navy. An accomplished cricket player, he received his education at Eton College in Eton, Berkshire, England and joined the British Army in 1899 where he served as a 2nd lieutenant with the King's Royal Rifle Corps during the Second Boer War in South Africa. After the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he was sent to France with the 9th Lancers and following the Battle of Mons, Belgium, his regiment charged a large body of unbroken German infantry in an effort to check their advance against the British Army's 5th Division and throw them into disarray. Upon the death of the senior officer, he took over and continued to lead them into a murderous fire until they were trapped and forced to retreat. He was wounded during the encounter and of the approximately 300 men who participated in the charge, only about 40 of them survived the ordeal. He then volunteered to assist in moving the field artillery guns belonging to the 119th Battery to safety, while enduring heavy gunfire. The following May he was killed in combat while commanding the left flank of the 9th Lancers near Hooge, Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day." His Victoria Cross is on display at the Regimental Museum of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, England. His twin brother, Riversdale Grenfell, was killed in action in September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I.
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
Son of Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell and Sophia, his wife. Educated at Eton, Francis
---
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
GRENFELL, FRANCIS OCTAVIUS, V.C., Captain, 9th Lancers, 8th son of the late Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell, of Wilton Park, Beaconsfield, by his wife, Sophia, daughter of Vice-Admiral John Pascoe Grenfell, Brazilian I.N., and nephew of Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell, P.C., G.C.B.; G.C.M.G., Field-Marshal; born Hatchlands, Guildford, 4 Sept. 1880; educated Eton (Mr. Durnford's House, 1894-99); received a commission in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 13 Dec. 1899; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant King's Royal Rifle Corps, 4 May, 1901, and Lieutenant 28 Jan. 1905; transferred to 9th Lancers 6 May, 1905; promoted Captain 7 Sept. 1912; was Adjutant 1 Nov. 1912 to 13 Jan. 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1901-2; took part in operations in Cape Colony and Transvaal, 1901, and in those in Orange River Colony, Jan. to 31 May, 1902 (Queen's medal with five clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 Oct. and 16 Nov. 1914] by F.M. Sir John French, and was killed in action, after being twice wounded at Hooge, 24 May, 1915; unmarried. He was awarded the Victoria Cross "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Audregnies, Belgium, on 24 Aug. 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, R.F.A., near Doubon, the same day," being the first officer to receive it in the European War. At Eton he was in the Cricket XI in 1899, and Master of the Beagles. Like his brother, Captain R. N. Grenfell, he was one of the finest polo players of his day. He did much for modern polo with his brother, was in the Champion side several times, and was instrumental in forming the Old Etonians Polo Team, which at one time was nominated as the Polo Cup Challenger. One of the best known men in the army, he enjoyed a popularity that few men achieve.
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
Son of Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell and Sophia, his wife. Educated at Eton, Francis
---
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
GRENFELL, FRANCIS OCTAVIUS, V.C., Captain, 9th Lancers, 8th son of the late Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell, of Wilton Park, Beaconsfield, by his wife, Sophia, daughter of Vice-Admiral John Pascoe Grenfell, Brazilian I.N., and nephew of Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell, P.C., G.C.B.; G.C.M.G., Field-Marshal; born Hatchlands, Guildford, 4 Sept. 1880; educated Eton (Mr. Durnford's House, 1894-99); received a commission in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 13 Dec. 1899; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant King's Royal Rifle Corps, 4 May, 1901, and Lieutenant 28 Jan. 1905; transferred to 9th Lancers 6 May, 1905; promoted Captain 7 Sept. 1912; was Adjutant 1 Nov. 1912 to 13 Jan. 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1901-2; took part in operations in Cape Colony and Transvaal, 1901, and in those in Orange River Colony, Jan. to 31 May, 1902 (Queen's medal with five clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 Oct. and 16 Nov. 1914] by F.M. Sir John French, and was killed in action, after being twice wounded at Hooge, 24 May, 1915; unmarried. He was awarded the Victoria Cross "For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Audregnies, Belgium, on 24 Aug. 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, R.F.A., near Doubon, the same day," being the first officer to receive it in the European War. At Eton he was in the Cricket XI in 1899, and Master of the Beagles. Like his brother, Captain R. N. Grenfell, he was one of the finest polo players of his day. He did much for modern polo with his brother, was in the Champion side several times, and was instrumental in forming the Old Etonians Polo Team, which at one time was nominated as the Polo Cup Challenger. One of the best known men in the army, he enjoyed a popularity that few men achieve.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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