Pte. Arthur Archibald Gridley

Arthur Archibald Gridley was the son of Joseph and Caroline Gridley. Born at Blenheim, New Zealand. Served in Egypt. Died during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic.

Mr. Arthur Gridley, who spent the greater part of his life in Blenheim, died of pneumonia following influenza at the Christchurch Hospital. This is another pitiful instance of a young man giving his service and health for his country and succumbing to the epidemic (says the "Express"). The deceased, who was 23 years of age, was the youngest son of the late Mrs. C. Gridley, St. Andrews, Blenheim, and was unmarried. He left Blenheim with the infantry draft of the Main Body, and was severely wounded during the fighting at Gallipoli, suffering severe head and body wounds and the loss of one eye. Since his return, to New Zealand he had been incapacitated, and a fortnight ago he became stricken with influenza, which had fatal developments. His brother - Sergeant Albert Gridley, M.M., who also left Blenheim with the Main -Body draft - returned to New Zealand recently, having been severely wounded diving the Passchendaele operations last year. Source: Colonist (2 December 1918, p. 3).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohG.html / Ref 9.4.2021