11/473 Lieutenant Lionel Edward Grimstone, (30/11/1893-8/10/1918). "cheerful and optimistic"

ROMANCE IN THE POLICE COURT.

A WILFUL DAUGHTER. 

LOVES v. BROTHER. 

Two young men named Chas. E. Merson and Lionel Francis Grimstone, were charged in the Police Court to-day, before Mr. It. M. Dyer, S.M., with using threatening behaviour on May 15, at the entrance to the Mount Eden Railway Station. Mr. Reed appeared for Merson, and Mr. Singer for Grimstone. 

Two witnesses said they saw two men scuffling near the station entrance, but could not identify the men. On witness said he saw Merson running across the road with his head bleeding. 

Merson's sister said she was in company with Grimstone when her brother came along and struck her companion. A fight ensued, and witness tried to separate them. Cross-examined by Mr. Reed, witness said she was 17, and Grimstone was a friend of hers. Her father had objected to this, and had spoken to Grimstone about taking witness out. In spite of the objections of her father and brother, witness continued her acquaintance with Grimstone. 

Mr. Reed. — Do you not know that Grimstone had a weapon specially made, in the form oi a weighted truncheon? 

Witness. — They went so far with him that he had to get something. 

Did he have this weapon on the night this affair took place? — I couldn't say. 

Was it weighted with lead? — Well, what I saw some months ago looked like an iron stick. 

Did you see blood streaming from your brother's head? — No, I did not. It was not true, witness continued, that as soon as her brother spoke to Grimstone the latter struck him with this weapon, and witness joined in hitting him. Beyond clinging to her brother to pull him off, she did not touch him. She did not see him use the weapon on her brother until the latter struck at him. 

Mr. Reed. — After the fight took place you did not go home? — I stayed with Mrs. Evans.

To Mr. .Singer, witness said that members of her family had gone to the length of threatening to kill Grimstone, who had gone about in fear of his life. Her mother had supported her in her attachment to Grimstone. Witness complained of the treatment received on account of Grimstone, by different members of her family. 

Mr. Dyer: Where are you living now? — At home. 

Are you being ill-treated now? — No, not now. 

Witness continued that there had been nothing in Grimstone's behaviour towards her to which her family could object, except going down badly lighted streets, and that was only on account of their fear of meeting members of her family. 

Mr. Dyer: Do you think you are doing right in defying your people in this matter? — Well, they have no cause to carry on as they have done. 

Mr. Dyer: I think that if this young man had any decency he would leave you alone, until you are older, anyway. What are you going to do in this matter? Are you still going to defy your people? 

Witness: Yes. When I am ready I will leave home and board with friends. 

Dr. Grant said that when he examined Merson he found a severe scalp wound and a cut over the right eye. He did not think those injuries could have been inflicted with a fist. To inflict such wounds with a bar, through a hard felt hat, would necessitate a heavy blow.

Charles C. Merson said that on the night in question he was gong to meet a friend when he saw Grimstone and his sister near the railway station. He said she had better go home. Grimstone took a step back and drew his arm back and witness struck out in self defence. He felt something strike his arm and, bending over, hit him on the head. His sister also struck him during the struggle. The first blow Grimstone felt like a sandbag, but afterwards the blows felt as if it was something harder. Witness was knocked down, and and the wounds in his head bled freely. 

Cross-examined, witness said he had never gone out for the purpose of assaulting Grimestone. On a previous occasion he had found his sister and Grimstone at the back of the ammunition works, and sent the girl home. He denied that he and other members of the family had threatened violence to Grimstone, and they had always treated his sister with consideration and kindness.

His Worship said the position was clearly that Grimstone persisted in going about with this girl in spite of the opposition of her people. He did not think that the defendant had acted properly. He should have left the girl alone until she was old enough to know her own mind. '"I think he is lacking in manliness in acting as he has done," said Mr. Dyer. "There is a proper, decent, honourable way of doing these things, and there is also a mean, contemptible, and dishonourable way. No man with any nicer feeling would act as you have done." 

The case was then adjourned until this afternoon, in order to allow Mr. Singer to consult with Grimstone as to his future intentions with regard to Miss Merson.

(Continued on page 2.)  -Auckland Star, 31/5/1907.

ROMANCE IN THE POLICE COURT.

(Continued from page 5.)

After the luncheon adjournment, Mr. Singer said tbat the arrangement he had made with Grimstone was to the effect that he would apply to his employers for a transfer to Wellington. 

His Worship said that there might not be a vacancy for some time, but he could not make any order to prohibit the two meeting. He suggested that Grimstone should give an undertaking, promising not to go out walking with the girl pending his transfer to Wellington, otherwise they might have further trouble. 

His Worship said he could not order the defendant to follow his suggestion.

Mr. Singer remarked that he could promise that Grimstone would follow his Worship's advice as far as he could. He intended to go to Wellington as soon as he possibly could get a transfer. 

Mr. Reed said Grimstone could be convicted and ordered to come up when called upon, and if he interfered with the girl again he could be brought up and dealt with. 

Grimstone formally promised that he would not continue to take the girl about as be had done. 

His Worship decided to convict Grimstone and Merson, ordering them to come up for sentence when called upon, remarking that Grimstone had in his opinion been the aggressor.  -Auckland Star, 31/5/1907.

Says the Argus: — We are pleased to hear of progress being made by Eltham lads, who are with the troops. Lionel Grimstone has been made "galloper" to the Staff. It takes a plucky, reliable and intelligent man to do this work, so young Grimstone must possess all these qualities. Jago has made further progress. He was Paymaster, and now he is Scout Sergeant.  -Taranaki Daily News, 25/2/1915.

Lionel, like so many men, caught typhoid on the Peninsula of Gallipoli and was later transferred to the Artillery. He was trained as an Officer Cadet in late 1916, taking up his Officer's duties the following year.

On October 8th the New Zealand Division in conjunction with the 37th Division on the right and the 3rd Division on the left, attacked at 4.30 a.m., with the aim of establishing itself on a line represented by the sunken road south-west of Esnes, le Grand Pont, Esnes Mill, and the Esnes-la Targette Road. If opportunity offered, success was to be exploited by securing Esnes and a line approximately one thousand yards east of the Esnes-la Targette Road. The night preceding the attack was wet, and rain was still falling when the guns opened the barrage. The advance of the infantry was so rapid that within a few hours of the opening of the attack the guns were going forward again, and by the early afternoon the great proportion of the field artillery supporting the Division was in action east of the canal, having crossed on bridges erected or repaired by the Engineers. In consequence of reports having been received that a fresh German division was marching south-west on Cattenieres, it was considered probable that the enemy might launch a counter-attack from the north-east during the afternoon, and it was, therefore, decided not to move all the guns east of the canal. 

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The 317th Brigade remained west of the canal with S.O.S. lines east of la Targette. The 1st Brigade positions were some distance north-east of Crevecour, and those of the 3rd Brigade in the neighbourhood of Pelu Wood. The day had been a very successful one for the Division, and casualties were small in both artillery brigades, though the 1st Brigade unfortunately lost two officers killed.  -NZ Artillery in the Field, 1914-1918.

The very sad news has reached Eltham (writes our correspondent) of the death, killed in action of Lieut. L. Grimstone, only son of Mr and Mrs L. B. Grimstone of this town. Lieut. Grimstone was a Main Body man, being one of the first ten men in Eltham to volunteer, and has consequently seen over four years of active service. He was out of the ranks for some time suffering from enteric, and on recovery sat for a commission. Lieut. Grimstone has seen most of the heavy fighting on the Western front, and his letters have been cheerful and optimistic. His parents will have the deepest sympathy of all Eltham and district, especially of the returned men, who have a warm corner for Mr Grimstone, who, as treasurer of the Patriotic Society, has worked vigorously on their behalf. Mrs Grimstone has also taken a deep interest in patriotic work.  -Hawera and Normanby Star, 28/10/1918.

Alexandra Cemetery.