Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq


Notice of Death appears in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 31 March 1917

Commemorated on St Pauls School Memorial
Commemorated on St Pauls Church Memorial

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 11 October 1915

A Jerseyman in Mesopotamia - the Garden of Eden Garrisoned by British Troops. Below will be found a few extracts from two very interesting letters received by Mr & Mrs W de Gruchy of Eureka Cottage, Lewis Street, from their son Private Stanley de Gruchy, who left a lucrative position in London at the outbreak of war to join the territorials. Going out to India with his Regiment, the 10th Middlesex, he became attached to the 2nd Norfolks who form part of the Indian Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia.

The letters read: "27 August. Yesterday we reached Korna on our way to Amarra the centre of recent operations in Mesopotamia, 90 miles up the Euphrates. Korna is situated at the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris and is a wonderfully interesting spot for it is the supposed site of the Garden of Eden and a wonderful Tree of Knowledge still stands (or rather the tree is regarded as the mythical one) and is now garrisoned by our soldiers. Last night I had my first opportunity of showing my knowledge of life saving - I was just going to dive off the boat when I noticed a fellow in the water who had got into difficulties. Several men, hardly better swimmers, were trying to get him out and were half drowning him. I went to their help, got him ashore and by using resuscitation methods brought him round. He seemed none the worse afterwards."

Letter of 1 September reads: "As regards life here for a start the temperature is about 110 in the shade and it is impossible to do anything between the hours of 9 and 5 in the day. One thing however satisfies us, we are able to bathe morning and evening in the river, only this morning I was in the river at 5 o'clock. The cold weather commences in about a month and they say the cold is just as intense as the heat."

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 5 June 1916

Another Jerseyman Taken Prisoner at Kut. It was known that there were several Jerseymen besieged at Kut and in the relieving force and the names of those taken prisoner are just coming through. News has been received that Private S R de Gruchy of the 10th Middlesex Regiment, son of Mr & Mrs de Gruchy of Torque Villas, Lewis Street has been captured by the Turks. This soldier was, previous to the outbreak of war, a teacher in Jersey.

 

Private Stanley Roberts De Gruchy
1st/10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
5/09/1916

1914-15 Star

Only son of Mr & Mrs W de Gruchy of 2 Torque Villas, Lewis Street, St Helier, Jersey.

Died, aged 22 years

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Friday 30 March 1917

Reported Death of a Jerseyman at Kut. We regret to learn that Mr & Mrs W de Gruchy of 2 Torque Villas, Lewis Street have received news, though unofficial, of the death of their son, Private Stanley de Gruchy of 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. The letter received in the first instance by Miss de Gruchy whilst in England from a friend of the deceased, stated that he and Private de Gruchy were at Kut with General Townshend and suffered tremendous hardships. Whilst on a march young de Gruchy, who had twice been in hospital with enteric fever, fell from exhaustion and want of proper food and died. As we have stated above the news has not been officially confirmed by the usual War Office notification and we trust that the ray of hope which this presents will have its raison d'etre and that the family will receive the welcome news that an error has been made.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 31 March 1917

Roll of Honour. The sad news was received yesterday that Private Stanley de Gruchy has made the supreme sacrifice. As no news had been received of him since the capture of Kut by the Turks in November 1915, a letter was sent to one of his friends who was known to be a prisoner. This brought the reply that he had died of dysentery on the march from Kut. The deceased was formerly a teacher at St Pauls Boys School, where he had received his education as a scholar. He also attended the Pupil/Teacher Centre previous to entering St Johns College in Battersea. At school he excelled in his studies and in swimming, football and cricket and well maintained his reputation at College, where he became one of the Head Boys, Secretary of St Peters Guild, was in their bowling team and won the swimming championship. Young de Gruchy joined up the day war broke out and went to India on 29 October 1914 and in the following August he volunteered for service in the Persian Gulf expedition. On the way up the Tigris he gallantly leapt overboard and saved the life of a drowning comrade. He fought in the battle of Ctesiphon and was with the beleaguered force at Kut with General Townshend, and it was rumoured that he was to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Mr de Gruchy was also a member of the St Pauls Sunday School Band of Hope and Boys Brigade and of the YMCA and will be greatly missed and mourned by all who knew and loved him.

 

 

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record