GRACE, Harold

Harold Grace was born at Wolverhampton but came to live at 6 Ridge Street, Wollaston, with his father who was a railway worker. He enlisted in the Ox and Bucks and joined the 2nd Battalion in the 2nd Division. This Division experienced a total reversal of fortunes in the five months from March to August 1918. It was in the second line of defence on the 21st March when the German first Spring offensive struck the Allied line. It fell back heroically for six days before being taken out of the line. On the 21st August it led the attack on the same German army in the battle of Albert driving them back some five miles in three days. This was the start of the Advance of Victory. Private Harold Grace was killed in action on the 23rd August near the village of Gomiecourt. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Gomiecourt South Cemetery (1 A 5) and commemorated on the Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials.