Corporal Joshua Laverty de Grouchy
1st Battalion , Canadian Infantry
(Western Ontario Regiment)
23/04/1915
1914-15 Star
Son of Noel and Ann (nee Le Moignan), of St. Helier.
Husband of Harriette Catherine Smith (formerly de Gruchy),
of Homely Lodge, St. Mark's Road, St Helier. He had
lived at Les Carriere, St Martin's prior to leaving
for a new life in Canada.
Killed in action at St Julien, aged 46 years.
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of
Monday 17 May 1915
Roll of Honour. Death of Mr Joshua de
Gruchy. The many friends in the Island of Mr Joshua
Laverty de Gruchy will hear with deep regret of his
death, which occurred recently in action near St Julien.
Mr de Gruchy who formerly resided at Les Carrieres,
St Martins, which was still his property, left the Island
a few years ago for Canada. When war broke out he decided
to enlist in the Canadian contingent and, although well
over the age limit, managed to get himself accepted.
The best proof that he was not too old to render yeoman
service lies in the fact that he has since risen to
Corporal's rank. The manner of his death is described
in the following letter received by his widow from the
Chaplain of the 1st Canadian Brigade; it reads "Dear
Mrs de Gruchy, I expect you have already received the
sad news about your husband from the War Office. I have
today had a letter from the Sergeant of his Company
in which he says of your husband "We were firm
friends and I found him a good soldier and an honourable
and upright man and feel his loss deeply. He succumbed
to a bullet which pierced his forehead whilst he was
in the prone position; death was mercifully instantaneous.
It took place at St Julien whilst the Company was advancing."
I wish my sorrowing sister to extend to you a brother's
sympathy, how deeply we officers mourn the loss of our
brave fellows we can never tell. This is hitting us
all very hard but we are proud to have led such loyal
and noble soldiers, worthy of the Empire's honour. Not
all the honours the Empire can bestow nor all the praise
can bring back our dead to us. May God in His mercy
help you to bear bravely the burden of sorrow and to
find comfort in the words of our Saviour "Greater
love hath no man than this to lay down his life for
his friends" your husband laid down his life for
poor, piteously weeping, Belgium, surely he will not
miss his due reward."
