Grylls William Michell Lt Col 0
Personnel Entry
Name Grylls William Michell
Army number Not yet known.
Rank Lt Col
Decorations 1915 Star issued by Government of India. M.i.D. for service on Waziristan Frontier 10/6/1921.
Date of birth 9/1/1885 at Redruth, Cornwall.
Age 77 at the time of his death.
Unit Commissioned into the Indian Army 5/8/1905. Served in 52nd Sikhs, Frontier Force, from 22/9/1914. Served Tochi Valley. Served Second Afghan War 6/7/1919 - 15/9/1919. Waziristan Force 4/6/1920 - 16/7/1920. Posted 2/12th Battalion (2nd Sikhs, 12th Frontier Force Regiment) in command 1930-1934. Transferred to Unemployed List 20/2/1934. Retired 20/8/1934. Ceased to belong to Reserve of Officers on age grounds 9/1/1940. Posted 31 Bde HQ 1941. Posted 70 Bde HQ 6/3/1942.
Company/Battery 70th Brigade Headquarters.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Brigade Major 29/7/1917. Second in Command of 52nd Sikhs 29/7/1918. Second in Command of 27th Punjabis 7/8/1918. GSO 1st Grade. Commander of 2nd Sikhs 1930-1934. 70th Brigade - Chief Umpire.
Joined Brigade 6/3/1942.
Promotions Lt. A/Captain. A/Major while commanding a Depot 18/6/1918 - 4/7/1918. Brevet Major. Major 5/8/1920. Lt Colonel while GSO 1st Grade 4/6/1920 - 16/7/1920. Lt Colonel 20/2/1930. Seniority antedated to 8/1/1930.
Wounded
Prisoner of War
Died/Killed in action 2/12/1962 aged 77 at Pinewood Hospital, Wokingham. Probate granted 15/3/1963.
Home address Son of Henry and Charlotte Wooldridge Grylls of The Green, Redruth, Cornwall. Educated at Haileybury College. Married Constance Rebekah Coates at St Thomas' Cathedral, Bombay, India, 4/10/1915. Twin daughters and one son (Henry 1916 - 1984). Passenger List research has shown him leaving the UK for Bombay, aged 29, on 18/9/1914 aboard SS Medina and on 7/9/1921 departing, aged 36, with his wife and three children for Karachi aboard SS City of London. Lived at Down House, Portishead.
Source table 70BG
It had been confirmed, via personal correspondence, that Lt Col Grylls was the grandfather of the adventurer, Bear Grylls. An episode of "Who do you think you are?" featuring Bear Grylls and broadcast on 15/6/2023 suggests that this is not the case and that his paternal grandfather was Brigadier William Edward Harvey Grylls. This will be further investigated and clarified as soon as possible.
To see a Website focussed on his Rugby playing please click here.
To see an Archive focussed on his cricketing record please click here.
