Graves of London Regiment WW1 soldiers rededicated in France

On Tuesday 5 April and Wednesday 6 April, the graves of Rifleman (Rfn) Albert George Sleet, Lieutenant (Lt) Wilfrid Ashton Piercy and Serjeant (Sjt) James Gration DCM, who died during the Great War whilst serving with battalions of The London Regiment, were rededicated after more than a hundred years.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Arras Road Cemetery, Dud Corner Cemetery and Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension respectively, all in the Pas-de-Calais region of France.

The graves of all three men were identified after researchers submitted evidence suggesting that their graves had been located. After further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and MOD JCCC, it was confirmed as part of MOD JCCC’s adjudication that these men had in fact been found.

Rosie Barron, from MOD JCCC, said: 
"It has been a privilege to work with The London Regiment to organise these rededication services and to meet the families of these men. Rfn Sleet, Lt Piercy and Sjt Gration all paid the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of our freedom and it is vital that their sacrifice is not forgotten." 

Rifleman (Rfn) Albert George Sleet

Photos: Albert George Sleet (Courtesy of the Sleet family), Colonel Steven Lowe TD VR, Commanding Officer of The London Regiment, presents a Union Flag to Nancy Wright, great niece of Rfn Sleet (Crown Copyright)

Rfn Albert George Sleet was born in Kentish Town, London, in 1885. He was one of eleven children born to Reuben and Mary Sleet. He worked as a postman before the war.  Rfn Sleet arrived on the Western Front on 18 March 1915 with 1/8^th Battalion The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). The War Diaries of 1/8^th Battalion The London Regiment show that on 14 October 1915, they moved into the frontline west of Hulluch, near Loos-en-Gohelle. The following day, 15 October 1915, three soldiers of the battalion were killed. One of these men was Rfn Sleet who was aged 30.

With no known grave, he was commemorated on the Loos Memorial which surrounds Dud Corner Cemetery. His family who attended the rededication service, had previously visited the WW1 memorial to pay their respects unaware that he was buried as an unknown soldier in the same cemetery.

Rfn Sleet’s great niece, Nancy Wright, who attended the service with her family, said:
"Albert Sleet was killed before he married or had a family of his own. As grandchildren and great grandchildren of Albert’s brothers and sisters, who loved him dearly and who always remembered him, we are honoured to be representing his family.
“We wish to thank all those whose dedication and hard work enabled his final resting place to be identified and who have organised a such a fitting rededication service for him. It is a great comfort for us to know that he was never missing, but buried beside his comrades all along. May they all rest in peace.”  

Lieutenant (Lt) Wilfrid Ashton Piercy

Photos: Wilfred Ashton Piercy (Copyright unknown), The Reverend Richard Terrado-Reardon CF, Chaplain to The London Regiment, leads the rededication service for Lt Piercy (Crown Copyright)

Lieutenant Wilfrid Ashton Piercy was born in Tai Ping Tong Canton, China, on 21 May 1880. He was the eldest of four children born to George and Annie Maria Piercy. His father was a Wesleyan Minister and the founder of Wesleyan Missions in China. When Wilfrid was still a young child the family returned to London. After studying in both London and France, he qualified as a school master. On 29 March 1912, Wilfrid joined 17^th Battalion The London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) as a Territorial Officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 4 December 1913. As a territorial Officer, on the outbreak of war Wilfrid volunteered for overseas service. He arrived on the Western Front on 9 March 1915.  

Lt Piercy was killed aged 35, near Loos-en-Gohelle on 26 September 1915, the second day of the Battle of Loos. He was commemorated on the Loos Memorial, as his grave at Arras Road Cemetery could not at the time be identified. The rededication of his grave was attended by members of his family.

Angela Ridge, a great great niece of Lt Piercy, said:
“We're proud to be able to represent Wilfrid's immediate family and are immensely grateful to those who did the research and enabled the rededication service to take place.” 

Serjeant (Sjt) James Gration DCM

Photo: Sjt James Gration DCM with his wife Edith (Courtesy of Andy Pugh)

Sjt James Gration DCM was born in Pentrich, Derbyshire, in 1891. He was one of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Gration. In 1914 he married Edith Marshall in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Their daughter Edith Olive Marshall Gration was born on 17 August 1915.  

Serjeant Gration arrived on the Western Front on 25 January 1917, when his battalion, 2/5^th Battalion The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), was deployed. On 30 January 1918, he was attached to 1/28^th Battalion The London Regiment (Artists Rifles).

Sjt Gration was killed on 24 March 1918, shortly after the beginning of the German Spring Offensive as British forces were overwhelmed and in retreat. Sjt Gration was recorded as missing and commemorated on the Arras Memorial. His grave at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension, now identified was rededicated in a ceremony today.

Following his death, Sjt Gration was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation published in the London Gazette of 21 October 1918 stated:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. When his officer had become a casualty, he led his platoon with great courage and determination, reaching his objective and personally killing three of the enemy. During the whole time he set a fine example to his men.’ 

The services were attended by serving soldiers of The London Regiment and The Rifles, and were conducted by the Reverend Richard Terrado-Reardon CF Chaplain to The London Regiment.

The Reverend Reardon said: 
“In being asked to officiate at these rededication services for Rfn Sleet, Lt Percy and Sjt Gration, these men were family members of the London regiment. This reintegration into the family of the London regiment draws us evermore close to the sacrifice of all those who lost their life in World War One, and in doing so we enrich not only our sense of heritage, but our own identity as we recognise our shared values that inspired these men to serve.
“We cannot bring them home, but we can provide a home as we rededicate not only their lives but our own commitment to them and those personnel serving this day.”  

The headstones marking all three graves have been replaced by the CWGC in France, so they now commemorate these three brave men by name. The Commission will continue to care for their final resting places in perpetuity. 

Commemorations Case Manager at the CWGC, Mel Donnelly, said:
“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures all those who served and fell are commemorated by name and so it truly is a privilege to be able to mark the graves of these three brave men with headstones bearing their names more than 100 years after they died in the First World War. We will care for their graves in perpetuity.” 

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