More about William Vigard Grimmond

William is believed to be the brother of L/Cpl Percy Douglas Grimmond, 410034, 554th Dundee A.T. Coy, Royal Engineers

William Grimmond   2277  Black Watch

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD DUNDEE BOY

Is In the Trenches.

Drummer Wm. Grimmond, 2d Battalion Black Watch, who is just seventeen years of age, is with his regiment in the trenches.  Young though he is, he has had considerable experiences as a soldier.  He entered the Boys’ Service at the age of 15, and shortly after was drafted to India, where he has served two years.  He marched from Calcutta to Rankiket, passing through a village which no white people before entered.  At the time he wrote home in glowing terms of the enthusiastic reception given them by the natives.

While in India he obtained his first-class shooting certificate, and this is no doubt the reason he went to France with the first lot of Indian troops.  Since his arrival at the front, he has been in the trenches.

Writing home, he says :―“ We are having a very hard time of it in the trenches with the cold just now.  We had a little snow to-day.  I am very glad you have sent me some cigarettes.  There is nothing like a smoke to keep you warm in the trenches.  People at home are very kind to us, and almost every day presents are received here.”

Dundee Evening Telegraph 24th November 1914

DUNDEE BLACK WATCH MAN KILLED.

ONLY 19, BUT IN MANY BATTLES.

News has just come to hand that Lance-Corporal William Grimmond, Black Watch, has been killed in action.

He joined the Black Watch when a boy, and was sent to India with his battalion.  He was there when war broke out, and because he was only seventeen at the time he was not allowed to proceed on active service.  He refused to be left behind, however, and so insisted upon going that his Captain gave him permission.  He has been through all the big engagements in France, and came out without a scratch.  He was on furlough in October of last year, and stayed with his brother in Dundee.

His battalion was afterwards transferred to another sphere of operations.  In January he was wounded, but on recovering after two months in hospital he rejoined his regiment.  A soldier, writing home, says:–“We have been chums almost since Will arrived in India.  I found Will yesterday, when we had an armistice for collecting the wounded.  He was lying just as if he were sleeping.”

Lance-Corporal Grimmond was a typical soldier—brave, fearless, cheerful, and generous to a fault.  Although only in his nineteenth year, he was a hardened veteran, and always ready to do the hard job.  He has a brother, Lance-Corporal P. Grimmond, serving in the R.E. at the front.

Dundee Courier 31st May 1916