Major John Grover RMLI, Royal Naval Division, KIA Gallipoli 1915

[alxhrmn]

I would be extremely grateful for any help researching my great-great-grandfather, Major John Grover (Portsmouth Battalion), for a family history project.

I remember my great-grandmother telling me how her father had died during the First World War, when she was the same age I was then (seven), and what a great impact this had on her early life. Unfortunately, I was too young at the time to understand the true consequences of this event and ask more about it.

From what I can find online, it appears he was killed on 22-24 June 1915, leading an attack of "A Company" on a Turkish trench that had been taken and subsequently lost by the RND on 19 June. The attack led by Major Grover was initially successful and the trench was taken despite strong resistance, however the position was ultimately untenable and abandoned after a few hours. The IWM's newspaper clipping suggests Major Grover was shot in defence of the recently taken trench, and was buried near a spot called 'Brown House' near to where he fell.

Questions to the community:

1. Can anyone help find where the trench that he died taking was, and anything more about the fateful attack?

2. Can anyone help discover more about 'Brown House', which is supposedly where he was initially buried?

Many thanks in advance for any pointers!

 

Some basic facts that I have found from publicly available sources that might be helpful:

- Major John Grover, Royal Naval Division, Portsmouth Battalion

- Born 24 May 1876

- KIA 22-24 June 1915

- IWM portrait and newspaper cutting (https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205295886)

- Buried initially in 'Brown House', before transferred to Redoubt Cemetery, Helles, where he still lies (https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/600922/john-grover/)
- Royal Naval Division record: https://www.royalnavaldivision.info/personnel-G.htm

- Mention in "The Royal Naval Division by Douglas Jerrold" (extracts attached)

Edited 11 July by alxhrmn

[michaeldr]

There is another account to be found in 'Britain's Sea Soldiers' by General Blumberg
See p.148 here https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2696049856/view?partId=nla.obj-2696073424#page/n176/mode/1up 

“At 10 p.m. on 23rd the attacking party led by 2nd Lieut. P. L. Jermain, carried the trenches at the point of the bayonet, Major Grover following with the supports. It had been arranged that Major Grover should fire a Very's Light as soon as the trench had been taken, as a signal for the machine guns to open fire and prevent any interference during consolidation. Unfortunately Major Grover was killed before he had given the pre-arranged signal, a great loss, as he was a most gallant and able officer.”

This is the Brown House where he was first buried; IWM ref Q 61124 

[michaeldr]

The position of the Brown House is indicated by the red arrow on the map below

 

[michaeldr]

Per the War Diary of the RM Brigade, 
on 30th May 1915 
“Reinforcements of 4 Captains and 7 Lieutenants together with 9 Sergeants, 8 Corporals and 472 Privates, who arrived under the command of Major Grover, RMLI.”

[from Len Sellers' magazine 'R.N.D.' Issue No.23, December 2002 (p. 2295) 
a disc with the full run of 24 issues can be bought from the Crystal Palace Foundation http://www.crystalpalacefoundation.org.uk/shop/collecting/royal-naval-division ] 

See also p. 2297
“23rd June 1915
Quiet day. 10 p.m. 1 Company Portsmouth Battalion, Major Grover, advanced and took Turkish trench as in Sketch at 10.10 p.m. Heavily bombed by Turks shortly after and forced to retire with loss of Major Grover, 2 officers and about 60 men.”

12 hours ago, alxhrmn said:

Can anyone help find where the trench that he died taking was

Blumberg mentions in the paragraph preceding that quoted earlier (see above) that 
“...opposite the centre section of the Divisional front, at the Rectangle was an advanced Turkish trench.....” 
This is the trench that Major Grover and his men were tasked with taking and as indicated in the WD, it can be seen (at the foot) on the sketch map on p. 2298 of 'R.N.D.'

Using the same map as previously, the Rectangle can be seen within the red circle

On the above map it is the line above Trotman Road and beneath Parsons Road

[michaeldr]

30 minutes ago, michaeldr said:

Blumberg mentions in the paragraph preceding that quoted earlier (see above) that 
“...opposite the centre section of the Divisional front, at the Rectangle was an advanced Turkish trench.....” 
This is the trench that Major Grover and his men were tasked with taking and as indicated in the WD, it can be seen (at the foot) on the sketch map on p. 2298 of 'R.N.D.'

[michaeldr]

Caution: 
I've re-read the WD several times and re-examined the sketch map
and I am beginning to think that the specific trench here, which was taken and lost by the Hawke Battalion on the 19th, and then taken and lost by Portsmouth RM on the 23rd, may well be that shown between points 'A ' & 'B' on the sketch map 
[alas, the writer of the WD entry does not mention  A & B in his entry]

If so, then that would put it above the Rectangle, and not exactly as mentioned by Blumberg

[alxhrmn]

Thank you so much for these generous replies. Really touched by your help! 

Am travelling today but looking forward to sitting down tomorrow to review properly.

Thank you again!