GRAINGER, Julius William

John Grainger was the son of Joseph and Phoebe Grainger of 38 Bell Road, Netherton, and was married to Sarah and lived at 104 Baptist End Lane, Netherton. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and served in the 1/7th Battalion which went to the Western Front in April 1915. They were much involved in fighting on the Somme in 1916, starting with the attack on Ovillers on the 10th July. They remained on the spur above the village and made attempts to capture the Leipzig Salient which protected Thiepval and eventually succeeded on the 26th September. In 1917 they followed up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and were responsible for the taking the Mound at Templeux Guerard and nearby Guillemont farm. Then came a move to the Third Battle of Ypres for the Battle of Langemarck on the 16th August and after a rest for an attack on various block-houses on the Steenbeck to coincide with 9th October Battle of Poelcapelle. In dreadful conditions the Worcesters lost heavily with 230 casualties. Among the killed in action was Private Julius Grainger. He was 29 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot and Dudley Memorials.