Frederick Arthur Grant-Ussher

Killed in Action. The late Sergt. Fred A. Grant-Ussher, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 7th July, was the second son of Mr W. N. Grant-Ussher, of Otautau. He was born at Caversham 25 years ago, and was educated at the Kaikorai Valley School. After leaving school, he was engaged with his father farming on the Taieri and Edendale, and latterly at Otautau. He was very anxious to join the Main Expeditionary Force, but could not get away, subsequently leaving with the Third Contingent as a mounted trooper. While he was in Egypt, he was promoted to sergeant, but forfeited his promotion in order to get to the front with the infantry, subsequently being re-promoted after arrival at the Dardanelles. He was a very keen footballer, having founded the Menzies Ferry Club, for which he played before coming to Otautau, when he joined the Otautau club, and last season played for Orawia, of which club he was secretary. He was a very popular young fellow all round the district. Several relations of deceased are in the fighting line in France and elsewhere, and he was a distant relative of the late Lord Roberts, so that he had fighting blood in his veins. Source: Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle (10 August 1915, p.5).

Sources

1. Cenotaph Record
2. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record
3. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohG.html / Ref 9.4.2021
4. New Zealand War Graves Project
5. Otautau Museum http://otautaumuseum.blogspot.com/p/wwi.html
6. Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle (10 August 1915, p.5).