Private Llewellyn Gilbert GROOBY (1898-1919).
Service #68405, Private, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 37th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 16 November 1898 at Motueka, Tasman District, South Island, New Zealand.
Son of Edward & Elizabeth Grooby of Motueka, Tasman District.
Brother of Trooper Lawrence R. Grooby (service # 58408) of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles NZEF - who died of sickness (Malaria) - on 27 October 1918 - at Palestine.
Prior to enlistment for war service Llewellyn Grooby was an Orchardist at Rangatotara, Tasman District.
Llewellyn Grooby enlisted for war service - on 17 October 1917 - at Motueka, Tasman District, New Zealand.
At enlistment Llewellyn Grooby was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 37th Reinforcements NZEF.
On 9 May 1918 Private Grooby left New Zealand - with the 37th Reinforcements - aboard HMNZT 103 "Maunganui" - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Private Grooby's elder brother Trooper Lawrence Grooby, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, also with the 37th Reinforcements NZEF - had left New Zealand two weeks previously - on 23 April 1918 - aboard HMNZT 102 "Willochra" - bound for Egypt.
On 24 June 1918 Private Llewellyn Grooby's transport ship, "HMNZT 103 "Maunganui". arrived at Liverpool, England.
On 10 September 1918 Private Llewellyn Grooby left England for active war service - in France.
On 16 September 1918 Private Llewellyn Grooby joined his Battalion - the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion - in the field, at France.
On 5 November 1918 - 6 days before the Armistice that would end World War 1 - Private Grooby was wounded in action - in the field - near Le Quesnoy, France.
On 21 November 1918 Private Grooby was medically evacuated to England and admitted to the No 1 (New Zealand) General Hospital at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England.
On 9 January 1919 Private Llewellyn G. Grooby died of wounds - received in action at Le Quesnoy, France in November 1918 - at the No 1 (New Zealand) General Hospital, at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England.
At his death Private Llewellyn Grooby was 20 years of age.
Private Llewellyn Grooby is buried at Brockenhurst (St Nicholas) Churchyard, Hampshire, England (Ref: Plot A, Row 5, Grave 20).
Private Llewellyn G. Grooby, and his brother Trooper Lawrence R. Grooby, are both remembered at their hometown in New Zealand - on the Riwaka District War Memorial - at Riwaka, Tasman District, South Island, New Zealand.
For Private Llewellyn Grooby, and his brother Trooper Lawrence Grooby's full military record(s) refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Jenifer Everett