11976 Private John E Griffiths
was a patient at Beechland House in 1916. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album
reads:
Pte J E Griffiths
11796
West Riding Regt
Gassed at Plugstreet
Aug 29/16
Private Griffiths shares this page
with 486742 Sapper Arthur Bee of the 470th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
John Griffiths was born in 1885
and enlisted under the Derby Scheme on 11th December 1915. It is uncertain from his autograph entry
and the scant surviving information regarding his war service, whether he was gassed on the 29th August 1916 or whether that was the date of his entry in Nurse Oliver’s album. The
absence of a battalion number also makes it difficult to pinpoint his movements although it seems probable that he served
with the 147th Brigade in the 49th Division.
After he had recuperated at Beechland
House he was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and later discharged from its 21st Battalion on 2nd May 1918. This suggests that he was a casualty for a second time. By this stage he also had a new regimental number – 66280.
Sources and Acknowledgements
· The
National Archives: Medal Index Card
· The
National Archives: British War and Victory Medal Roll: O/1/103 B22 Page 4309: WO 329/1615
· The
National Archives: Silver War Badge Roll: O/1/1560/1: WO 329/3141
