Harold Grimwade
| Harold William Grimwade | |
|---|---|
Official portrait of Major General Harold William Grimwade
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| Nickname(s) | Grim Death |
| Born | 18 May 1869 St Kilda, Victoria |
| Died | 2 January 1949 (aged 79) |
| Allegiance | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1891–1930 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches (4) Croix de Guerre (France) |
Major General Harold William Grimwade CB, CMG (18 May 1869 – 2 January 1949) was an Australian Army colonel and temporary brigadier general in World War I.
Harold William Grimwade was born on 18 May 1869 in St Kilda, Melbourne, the son of Frederick Sheppard Grimwade. Harold was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the Queen Elizabeth School, Ipswich, Essex, England. He qualified as a pharmacist in London before returning to Australia. He became Felton Grimwade's warehouse manager and a partner in the company in 1893. In this role he displayed a considerable talent for leadership and management of employees.
Grimwade joined the Victorian Field Artillery in 1891 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 16 May 1910. In August 1914, he became Chief Embarkation Officer for Victoria.
Grimwade was appointed to the First Australian Imperial Force as a lieutenant colonel on 26 August 1915 to command the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, a new unit formed for the 2nd Division. The formation of the 2nd Division Artillery drained Australia of guns and instructors and left the artillery in Australia badly depleted.
The 4th Field Artillery Brigade embarked for Egypt on 8 November 1915, arriving on 12 December. The 2nd Division Artillery thus missed the Gallipoli Campaign and instead began intensive training for France. Initially the 4th Field Artillery Brigade was to be reassigned to the 4th Division but General Sir Archibald Murray ruled that the artillery must be provided on the British Expeditionary Force standard of 15 batteries per division rather than on the MEF one of just 9. Whereas the infantry in Egypt had to expand from 32 battalions to 48, the artillery was faced with an expansion from 18 batteries to 60. Priority was given to getting the 1st and 2nd Divisions' Artillery ready, and the 4th Field Artillery Brigade departed Alexandria for France on 12 March 1916.
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