Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Grigg, a shoe maker, born 1862 in Birmingham, Warwickshire and his wife Sarah Grigg (nee Miller, married in the 4th quarter of 1881 in the Stafford district), born 1861 in Stafford. Robert Grigg, a schoolboy was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Leicester, his siblings were, William, a schoolboy, born 1882 and Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1884, the latter two siblings were both born in Stafford, Lizzie, a schoolgirl, born 1886, Rose, a schoolgirl, born 1888, Harry, born 1889 and Thomas, born 1891, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Marton Road, Humberstone, Leicester. In March 1901 Robert was employed as a shoe trade pressman and was residing in the family home at 50, Meynell Road, Leicester, together with his father, a shoe trade machine operator, his mother and siblings, William, a shoe trade worker, Arthur, a shoe trade machinist, Lizzie, a shoe trade boot lace tagger, Rose, Harry, Thomas, Beatrice Annie, born 1892, Bertie, born 1893, Ernest, born 1894, Mark, born 1898 and Ivy Alice, born 1901, the latter five siblings were all born in Leicester. In April 1911 Robert was employed as a shoe trade pressman and was residing in the family home at 3, Berkeley Street, Thurmaston, Leicester, together with his wife Alice Grigg, a shoe trade machinist, born 1886 in Leicester and their children, Edna Winifred, born 1906 and Evelyn, born 1908, both children were born in Leicester. Robert attested into the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) on the 26th May 1913 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Leicester, his age as 27 years and 4 months, his trade or calling as shoe hand, and his present employer as Tomlinson and Company, Bridge Road, Leicester. He confirmed that he was married and was presently residing at 16, Eastbourne Road, Leicester. He stated that he had previously served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for two years. He gave his wife Alice Grigg of 16, Eastbourne Road, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches, his vision was described as good and his physical development as normal. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 26th May 1913 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 1814 on the 26/5/13. Posted to Grantham on the 3/8/13 – 17/8/13. Embodied Service commenced with the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Appointed Lance Corporal on the 10/8/14. Promoted Corporal on the 31/10/14. Embarked with the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the -?-. Disembarked at Le Havre on the -?-. Admitted to the North Midland Divisional Field Ambulance suffering from bronchitis on the 28/9/15. Transferred to No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station, Abeele on the 1/10/15. Admitted to No. 25 General Hospital, Dammes Camiers on the 2/10/15. Admitted to Courtrai Camp, No.7, Dammes Cammiers on the 9/10/15. Promoted to Acting Sergeant on the 1/10/15. Rank of Sergeant made substantive on the 20/1/16. Admitted to North Midland Divisional Field Ambulance suffering from pleural pneumonia on the 14/4/16. Admitted to No. 5 General Hospital, Rouen on the 23/4/16. Transferred by Hospital Ship St. Andrew to England on the 29/4/16. Posted to the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/2/17. Re-embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 28/2/17. Disembarked in France on the 28/2/17. Sick to Hospital on the 22/5/17. Admitted to No. 30 General Hospital on the 22/5/17. Discharged from hospital on the 22/6/17. Rejoined 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 16/7/17. Admitted 1/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from a sprained ankle on the 21/9/17. Discharged to duty on the 29/9/17. Wounded on duty on the 1/11/17. Admitted to 1/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from a sprained ankle on the 19/12/17. Discharged to duty in the field on the 5/1/18. Continued in the service under the Military Services Act (Section 2) from the 26/5/18. Killed in action in the field on the 22/8/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 26/5/13 – 1/3/15. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 29/4/16. Home Service, 30/4/16 – 26/2/17. British Expeditionary Force, France, 27/2/17 – 22/8/18. Robert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. Robert’s widow and four children were awarded a weekly pension of 36 shillings and 3 pence to commence on the 10th March 1919. Robert’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 22 Aug-18 - Left flank of Battn pushed forward north west of LE TOURET where liaison was established with the STAFFORDSHIRE REGT. During the day and through the night left flank positions were improved north of RUE DU BOIS.
On Saturday January 16th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” - LEICESTER FAMILY’S FINE RECORD. - EIGHT SOLDIER AND SAILOR SONS. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Grigg, of 156, Jarram Street, have a family of 13 - eight sons and five daughters. All the sons are serving the country. Three of them are in France, and one is a prisoner of war in Germany, and another is in the Navy. The Mayor and Mayoress, at the recent gathering at the De Montfort Hall, personally congratulated Mrs. Grigg, and it is the intention of Councillor W. E. Hincks to notify the King of the excellent record. The sons are:- William (aged 33), National Reserve. Arthur John (31), Sherwood Foresters. Robert (30), Leicester Territorials. Harry (27), Sherwood Foresters. Thomas (26), R.A.M.C. Bert (21), Canadian Highlanders. Ernest (19), Sherwood Foresters. Mark (18), the Navy. Bert was in Canada when the war broke out, but he quickly offered his services to the Old Country, and at present he is training at Salisbury Plain. The brothers in France are William, Arthur and Harry, and Ernest is the prisoner of war. Mr. and Mrs. Grigg have resided in Leicester for about 32 years.