Orders, Decorations and Medals

British War Medal 1914-20 (2 Lieut. P. C. G. Greenway), note initials, nearly extremely fine £70-90

Frederick Charles Garton Greenway was born at Stapleton, Bristol, on 9 June 1895. His Father was the Reverend Frederick Greenway and they lived at ‘Newhaven’, Downend, Near Bristol. He was educated at the King Edwards Grammar School where he was a member of the Officers Training Corps (OTC). After leaving school he worked in the Land Valuation Office, Bristol with war declared he left his job, and on 29 August 1914 joined the Army and was posted to A Company 6th Battalion Gloucester Regiment. The Battalion sailed for France from Folkestone on 31 March 1915, eventually arriving at Armentieres on 10 April. During the week of 10 April the 6th Gloucester Battalion began instruction in front line trenches and then moved to Ploegsteert a week later and began a tour in the trenches near Le Gheer. On 19 April Lance-Corporal F.C.G, Greenway was wounded by a ‘gun shot wound in the back’. He was admitted to No 1 General Hospital Havre, was moved to Armentieres and was finally discharged from Number 9 Station Hospital Havre on 8 June 1915. After a spell of leave back in Bristol, he rejoined the 6th Battalion Gloucester Regiment on 29 August 1915 and remained with them until 9 January 1916 when he returned to the UK to undergo officer training. After being granted a commission he was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 10th (Reserve) Battalion Leicester Regiment. On the completion of his officer training he was posted back to France to join the 8th (Service) Battalion Leicester Regiment, 110 Brigade, 21 Division. During the night of 13 April 1916 the 8th Leicester Battalion assembled along the north edge of Mametz Wood for an attack on Bazentin-le Petit. 2/Lietenant Greenway was commanding 14 Platoon, D Company. At 0325 hrs on 14 April, D Company, 8th Battalion crossed the Start Line, which was 100 yards in front of Mametz Wood together with the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Leicesters. They immediately ran into extremely heavy artillery and machine gun fire and when 14 Platoon, D Company was only 300 yards from their objective Lieutenant Greenway was killed by a shell. The attack continued and Villa Trench was taken. The War Diary records that ‘Not a single officer was left, the assault led by NCOs’. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with copied service papers and other research, two photographs of the family house ‘Newhaven’; the original Casualty Form giving dates and details of Private F. C. G. Greenway having been ‘Wounded in Action’ and subsequent hospitalisation, and a copy of the hand written telegram sent by the War Office expressing their sympathy on the death of 2/Lt F C G Greenway, Leicester Regiment ‘Killed in Action’.