A Dedication to a British Hero,

SERGEANT WILLIAM GREGG V.C. D.C.M. M.M. (1890 - 1969 )

© copyright Roger W. G. Capewell 1999 - 2006

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These pages are respectfully dedicated to Lynne Gregg-Boot and to all of William Gregg's family and descendants.

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This remarkable man was known to all as "Bill". Following is a small part of Bill's story.

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He was born in Heanor, Derbyshire on the 27th. of January 1890. Heanor is a small town close to the Nottinghamshire border. The main industries in the area where coal mining and textiles.

His parents where William and Harriet Gregg.

To view a part of Sgt. Gregg's family tree please click here > tree.htm

William snr. was born in the city of Derby and Harriet was born in Langley Mill Derbyshire. William senior’s occupation was a frame worker.

It is said that bill was born at "Tag Hill" which was (and still is) a local name for a steep hill on Derby Road, Heanor. Tag hill had a reputation as a "tough" area of the town.

By 1891 Bill's family where living in Gladstone Street, Heanor (not far from Tag Hill). Bill had three known siblings who were, Thomas (born 1885), Robert (born 1887) and Elizabeth (born 1889).

Bill Gregg attended MUNDY STREET School at Heanor. On leaving school, Bill started work at Shipley coal mine and he was employed in the mining industry until he volunteered to the army in November 1914.

(Years later at the age of 49, Bill volunteered to the army for World War Two, and he is known to have commented at that time "If a country is worth living in, it's worth fighting for"). I feel sure that these sentiments where exactly his reason for volunteering in 1914. Britain’s enemies were soon to discover what this son of England meant when he said fight !

Bill married Sarah Hardy (1892 - 1993) on the 25th of June 1910 at Heanor Parish Church. At the time of their marriage Bill gave his address as Fair View, and Sarah as Park Street.

Bill enlisted to the Rifle Brigade. (Now the Royal Green Jackets) in November 1914. After his basic training he was posted to the 2nd. Battalion in France. He was posted to the 13th. (S) Battalion in May of 1915 where he remained for the rest of the First World War.

Sergeant William Gregg V.C. D.C.M. M.M. of the Rifle Brigade.

Please click here to go to page 2 > bill2.htm