Lieutenant John Hutton Grigg
Grigg as a sergeant in the Royal North Devon Hussars, 1915
John Hutton Grigg and his twin brother Gilbert Hutton Grigg were born at Longbeach, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand, on 6 May 1895, sons of grazier John Charles Nattle Grigg and his wife Alice Montgomery Grigg (nee Hutton).
He and his brother were educated at Christ's College, New Zealand, before travelling to England to study at Jesus College, Cambridge.
On 5 October 1914 John and his brother, together with their cousins Harold Plumer Kellock and Richard Berry Kellock, enlisted at Barnstaple in the 2/1 Royal North Devon Hussars (Nos 1171 and 1170).
John was made acting corporal on 31 October 1914 and sergeant on 19 February the following year. On 12 July 1915 he and his brother transferred to the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. In August both applied for commissions, and on 26 August they were appointed as 2nd lieutenants and posted to the North Irish Horse.
The brothers were attached to E Squadron and embarked for France on 11 January 1916. Both were promoted to the rank of lieutenant five days later.
They remained with the squadron through 1916, 1917 and into 1918, as it moved from being a divisional cavalry squadron to part of the 1st North Irish Horse corps cavalry regiment, to a corps cyclist regiment.
In June 1916 the Kellock brothers joined the Griggs as officers in the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.
In 1918 the Griggs and Kellocks all sought transfers to the Royal Field Artillery. On 16 April John Grigg was posted to the 32nd Division's C Battery, 168 Brigade, on two months probation. Following a course of instruction at the 3rd Army's Artillery School, in July 1918 he was sent to England for a gunnery course. However it appears that his transfer to the artillery was not confirmed.
Lieutenant Grigg was demobilised on 14 July 1919 and with his brother returned home to New Zealand. He relinquished his commission on 1 April 1920.
John Grigg died on 12 June 1974 at Longbeach, New Zealand, just 27 days after his twin brother Gilbert.
Above from left, Gilbert Hutton Grigg, Richard Berry Kellock, Harold Plumer Kellock, John Hutton Grigg while serving in the Royal North Devon Hussars
Image of John Hutton Grigg kindly provided by Bill Thomas. Group photo and much helpful family background kindly provided by Penny Otto and Jill McLaren.