5th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
31/05/1895
Died:
15/08/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
20
Summary
Donald Grubb was the son of James and Jessie Grubb. Reverend James Grubb was a Methodist Minister. Donald James Grubb was born on 31st May 1895 in Belfast. He was educated at Wesley College, Dublin. Donald spent a time in Cookstown and worked at Gunnings factory. He joined the Officers’ Training Corps at Queens University and after gaining his commission, he landed with his regiment at Suvla Bay on 7th August. Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 15th August 1915.
Further Information
Donald Grubb was the eldest and only surviving son of the Reverend James and Jessie Grubb. James Grubb married Jessie Reid about 1895. Both parents were born in England.
Donald James Grubb was born on 31st May 1895 in Belfast. He was the eldest of four children, three surviving.
Reverend James Grubb was a Methodist Minister.
The 1901 census lists Donald James as 5 years old living with the family at house 158 in New Grove Avenue, Dublin.
Family: James Grubb, Jessie Grubb, Donald James Grubb (born 31st May 1895, Belfast), Ruth Grubb (born 17th June 1897, Belfast), Norman Grubb (born about 1900, Dublin), Doris Jessie Grubb (born about 1903).
It seems that Norman Grubb died very young, possibly in Dublin, as no record can be found in PRONI.
Donald Grubb was educated at Wesley College, Dublin. The 1911 census lists Donald as resident at Wesley College, Street Stephen's Green South, Dublin.
The 1911 census does not list Donald as living with the family at house 80 in Holywood Road, Belfast.
Donald spent a time in Cookstown and worked at Gunnings factory. He is listed on their War Memorial.
On the outbreak of war Donald Grubb joined the Officers’ Training Corps at Queens University, Belfast.
Donald obtained his commission in September 1914, being posted to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 31st Brigade of the 10th Irish Division
Lieutenant Grubb left Basingstoke for the East with his battalion on 10th July 1915.
He landed with his regiment at Suvla Bay on 7th August. He served as signalling officer.
On the 15th August 1915 the 5th Inniskillings were appointed the task to take Kidney Ridge, and shortly after noon that day, they advanced and made moderate progress until they reached the plain at the foot of the hill. The advance then stopped due to very heavy artillery and enemy machine gun fire. More advances were made, but all were in vain. By 8pm that evening orders were sent from Brigade Headquarters to withdraw back to the position they held at noon that day. An order was sent out by Captain Adams to go out and collect the wounded, and by midnight the Captain had retrieved over 100 wounded men. The task was completed by 4am the next morning. The casualty count was high, 6 Officers had been killed and 14 wounded, with 28 other ranks killed and 230 wounded. 78 men were posted as missing. Almost half the Battalion strength was gone since landing at Suvla Bay in early August.
Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 15th August 1915. He was 20 years old.
His Commanding Officer in writing of Lieutenant Grubb says:-
‘He met his death while bravely attending the wounded at great personal risk under a very heavy fire.’
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 21st August 1915: Second Lieutenant D J Grubb
Rev James Grubb, minister of Donegall Square Methodist Church, Belfast, received a telegram yesterday from the War Office, intimating that his only son, Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb, of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on Sunday last, 15th August. The deceased, who was only twenty years of age, was educated at Wesley College Dublin and on the outbreak of war joined the Belfast University Officers’ Training Corps. He obtained his commission in September, being posted to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and left Basingstoke for the East with his battalion on 10th July. He served as signalling officer. The late Lieutenant Grubb was a young man of great promise, and deep sympathy will be extended to his father and mother by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 24th August 1915: The Late Lieutenant D J Grubb – Memorial Service in Belfast
A memorial service in connection with the death in action at the Dardanelles of Lieutenant Donald J Grubb, 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the only son of Rev James Grubb, the well-known Methodist minister, was held in Donegall Square Methodist Church on Sunday. Rev Thomas Davis occupied the pulpit, which was suitably draped. The preacher took for his subject ‘For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.’ He said that in the case of Donald Grubb, they did not sorrow as those who had no hope. He early in life grasped the true Christian ideals of life. Brought up in a home where the dominant note had always been ‘To live is Christ’, it was not to be wondered that he always displayed in a quiet way those high Christian characteristics which made his short life so attractive. In the early days of the war, having a high sense of duty, he felt he ought to offer himself for service in the just cause of his country. In September last he joined the O.T.C. Queens University, obtaining his commission later in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and at once threw himself wholeheartedly into the work of training. He specialised in signalling, and attended a special course in this branch, being later appointed signalling officer. He was only five weeks at the front on Sunday 15th, the day on which he was killed in action, the sad news reaching his parents on Friday. One of the outstanding features to be admired in Donald Grubb was his deep affection for his parents and sisters and his love for home. In his last letter he seemed to be delighted at the prospect of receiving the home letters on his arrival at Gallipoli. At the conclusion of the sermon, the congregation rose and silently expressed their sympathy with Mr and Mrs Grubb and family in their great loss. The organist then played the Dead March in ‘Saul’. It may be mentioned that 61 sons of Methodist ministers have joined the colours have joined the colours since the outbreak of war, and Lieutenant D J Grubb is the first son of the manse to be killed in action.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 11th September 1915: The Late Lieutenant D J Grubb
Rev James Grubb has received from the officer commanding 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers the following communication concerning the death of his son:-
‘M.E.F., 20th August 1915. Dear sir, I very much regret to have to inform you that your son, Donald Grubb, was killed in action on Sunday 15th August, and to express to you on behalf of the remaining officers, other ranks, and myself, our deep sympathy with you in your and our sad loss. We were all fond of him, and he was a very popular and good officer. His loss is felt very keenly. It will be a great satisfaction to you to know that your son met his death while bravely attending the wounded, at great personal risk to himself, under a very heavy fire, and his actions and bravery will never be forgotten by those who remain. He suffered no pain, as his death was instantaneous.’
At the Methodist Church, Inchicore (Dublin), a memorial service for the late Lieutenant Grubb was held on 5th September, conducted by the Rev. E J Elliott, garrison chaplain. Mr Elliott spoke in feeling terms of the late Lieutenant’s high Christian character and influence in his regiment.
Rev James Grubb was the minister of Donegall Square Methodist Church, Belfast. Donald Grubb was a nephew of Captain J J Grubb, Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 97-101 on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.
Donald Grubb is commemorated on Gunning’s Factory Memorial.
Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb is also commemorated on Lisburn War Memorial.
The CWGC record Second Lieutenant Donald James Grubb as the only son of the Rev. James and Jessie Grubb of Belfast. It records that he was educated at Wesley College, Dublin and was a member of the O.T.C., Queen's University, Belfast.
