Arthur Geoffrey Groser was born in Hornsey, Middlesex (now Greater London), the youngest of the four children of Arthur William Groser (1859-1911) and Isabel Groser née Hudson (1860-1951). The birth of Arthur Grocer was registered in the 1st quarter 1895 in the Edmonton registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London), which would indicate he was born in either late 1894 or early 1895.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 6 years, living at 47 Onslow Gardens, Hornsey, with his parents, his three sisters: Marguerite Isabel Groser (1884-1973); Faith Madeline Groser (1886-1974) and Phyllis Adelaide Groser (1890-1962), together with a governess, a cook and a housemaid. His father was described as a barrister at law.
He is shown as 'at school' in the 1911 census living at an 11 roomed property called North Lymar at 11 Crescent Road, Crouch End, Middlesex (now Greater London), the home of his paternal grandfather William Howse Groser (1834-1925), a refiner of precious metals, along with his paternal aunt Anne Elizabeth Groser (1858-1927), his sister Marguerite Isabel Groser, together with a cook and a housemaid.
As a student, he attended the University of London and on 24 January 1913 he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 7th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Having gained a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant he entered France on 12 March 1915 and was twice Mentioned in Despatches, one of which was that of Sir Douglas Haig's despatch dated 9 April 1917 and published in the London Gazette on 25 May 1917.
He was killed in action, aged 21 years, on 7 October 1916 during the Battle of Le Transloy Ridges, when he was the Officer Commanding his battalion's 'D' Company and was leading an attack in the Guillemont Sector of the Somme, France. His body was originally buried near were he fell, but on 3 September 1919 it was exhumed and reburied in Plot 10, Row V, Grave 1, in the Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, located on an unnamed road, 80360 Lesbœufs, France.
Probate records confirm that his address had been Oaklands, Bishopwood Road, Highgate, Middlesex (now Greater London) and that when administration of his estate was granted on 20 April 1917 to his mother, his effects totalled £151-7s-10d. On 3 May 1917 his army effects totalling £112-12s-10d were sent to his mother. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'A. GEOFFREY GROSER' on the Highgate United Reform Church war memorial at Pond Square, London, N6. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
