Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1889 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/164, the
son of John & Alice Grear (nee Renshaw).

1891 Census - Moss Lane, Mobberley.   Son - aged: 2 - born: Mobberley.  
Head of household - John Grear - Married - aged: 34 - occ: Warehouseman -
born: Manchester.   Also - Alice Grear - Wife - aged: 35 - born: Urmston.  
Plus 6 siblings and a great aunt.

1901 Census - 7 Chapel Grove, Urmston.   Son - aged: 11 - born: Mobberley. 
 Head of household - John Grear - Married - aged: 43 - occ: Glass Dealer -
born: Manchester.   Also - Alice Grear - Wife - aged: 43 - born: Urmston.  
Plus 3 siblings and a great aunt.

1911 Census - No Trace of the family - Australia ???

A.I.F. Database.
Religion - Church of England.   Occupation - Farmer.   Address -
Strathfield, New South Wales 
Marital status - Single.   Age at embarkation - 27.   Next of kin - Mother,
Mrs Alice Grear, Boulevarde, Strathfield, New South Wales 
Enlistment date - 23 February 1916.   Rank on enlistment - Private.   Unit
name - 45th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement 
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/62/3 
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board
HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 22 August 1916 
Rank from Nominal Roll Lance - Corporal.   Unit from Nominal Roll - 45th
Battalion 
Fate - Died of wounds 14 October 1917.    Australian War Memorial - 139.  
Medals Military Medal.

Recommendations (Medals and Awards) Military Medal.  Recommendation date:
27 February 1917 
'For gallant conduct during an attack upon German strong point and trench
at GUEUDECOURT on the morning of 21st February, 1917. The assault was
delivered under cover of a barrage of Stokes guns. The position was
protected by strong wire and before the Stokes had finished firing Private
GREAR dashed forward with Sergeant CLARE and laid blankets across the wire
to facilitate the progress of the storming party. He then returned for more
blankets which he placed in position. Subsequently he rendered valuable
assistance in the operations along the trench.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 133.   Date: 21 August 1917.
 
Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal.   Commemorated on
the Mobberley PC Mem and St. Clements PC., Urmston Mem.

Died of S.W. Right leg and arm.   During the second at Passchendaele he and
his comrades had just gone over the top when he was hit by a shell.  
According to his comrades, he died in the trenches.  A Corporal S.P. Murray
No. 615, was with him and stated that he only lived for a few minutes. In a
statement, he stated that he had first met Private Grear at Messines in
July 1917.   They were both volunteer stretcher bearers at Passchendaele in
No. 1 Platoon, 'A' Company and were alongside the support trenches bringing
in the wounded - six of them in total.   "A shell burst and hit the first
of us - we lay out there until 10 o'clock in the morning of the 13th -
Grear was hit in both thighs.   We bound him up and he was conscious.  We
were picked up and taken to an ADS at Ypres, thence onto Poperinghe, where
he died on the 14th.

His AIF Record does not support that - It states that he was accidentally
wounded and had a bullet wound to the left side of his scalp ????