Lives of the First World War

Captain Horace Edward Gretton was killed in action during the Battle of Ypres on 16th August 1917. Captain Gretton was leading an assault by the 2nd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) on Polygon Wood when he fell aged 22. Horace has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Horace was the second son Ernest and Minnie Gretton of 17, Dunkeld Road, Goodmayes who lost their lives. 20 year old Rifleman Douglas William Gretton took part in the diversionary attack on the heavily defended village of Gommecourt on the first day of the Somme Offensive on 1st July 1916. His regiment, the Queen Victoria’s Rifles took three enemy trench lines but their position was untenable due to overwhelming counter attacks and the lack of reinforcements. Douglas who was killed in action that morning, was buried in Gommecourt British Cemetery No2 at Hebuterne. Two sons were to survive the war.

Photo of the Memorial in Ypres, Belgium