George Charles Grey

George Charles Grey was the son of Major-General Wulff Henry Grey CB, CMG of the Royal Engineers and Alix Grey. His education took in Durnford School at Langton Matravers, Winchester College and, following a year at Berlin University, to Hertford College, Oxford.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/archive/grey-george-charles/|title=Grey, George Charles : Winchester College at War|website=winchestercollegeatwar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-05}}{{Cite news|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=vglam&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=&docId=CS119357194&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|title=Deaths|date=10 August 1944|work=The Times|issue=49931|page=7}}

From the 1931 election, when Grey braved public opinion at his private school by flaunting the Liberal colours, he was a devoted and unswervingly faithful adherent of the Liberal Party.The Times obit 1944

He stood unopposed in a by-election triggered by Sir Hugh Michael Seely being elevated to the peerage. He was sworn in at the House of Commons on 9 September 1941.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1941/sep/09/new-member-sworn|title=NEW MEMBER SWORN. (Hansard, 9 September 1941)|website=api.parliament.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-05}}

Grey made his maiden speech there on 17 December 1941 in a debate on 'service pay and dependants' allowances'. He closed his speech with these words -{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1941/dec/17/service-pay-and-dependants-allowances#S5CV0376P0_19411217_HOC_324|title=SERVICE PAY AND DEPENDANTS' ALLOWANCES. (Hansard, 17 December 1941)|website=api.parliament.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-05}}

{{Quote|text=So I would beg most sincerely that the Government should consider this last point and what should be done for the Forces after the war. If they decide it now and arrange this method, it will help morale considerably, and make soldiers realise that provision is being made not only to win the war but to help them win their peace.|sign=Captain George Charles Grey|source=Hansard, 17 December 1941}}

Between his election and his death, he was the youngest member of the House of Commons, having been elected at the age of 22. Not only was he youngest member of that Parliament, he was the youngest MP of the 20th Century.

Following the death of Grey when he was killed in action with his regiment in France, William Beveridge retained Berwick for the Liberals in the subsequent by-election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36757/page/4817|title=Member elected to serve in the present Parliament|date=20 October 1944|work=The London Gazette|issue=36757|page=4817}}

His death was noted by the House when Speaker of the Commons, Douglas Clifton Brown informed the Members. His words were recorded in Hansard:{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1944/sep/26/death-of-a-member|title=DEATH OF A MEMBER (Hansard, 26 September 1944)|website=api.parliament.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-05}}

{{Quote|text=I regret to have to inform the House of the death, in action, of Captain George Charles Grey, Member for the County of Northumberland (Berwick-upon-Tweed Division), and I desire on behalf of the House to express our sense of the loss we have sustained and our sympathy with the relatives of the honourable Member.|sign=Douglas Clifton Brown|source=Hansard, 26 September 1944}}

In 1938, Grey joined the Grenadier Guards Supplementary Reserve of Officers. He served with the regiment during the Battle of France and participated in the Dunkirk Evacuation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34584/page/8307|title=Supplementary Reserve of Officers|work=The London Gazette|issue=34584|page=8307}}

A captain in the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards, he was participating in Operation Bluecoat when he was killed by a sniper as his tank was hit advancing through Lutain Wood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/4007346/livry-(le-repas)-isolated-grave/|title=Cemetery|website=cwgc.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2326445/grey,-george-charles/|title=Casualty|website=cwgc.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}

He was buried on the battlefield by his men, on the site of which his family later erected a memorial. The residents of Le Repas and Captain Grey's family were 'emphatic in their desire' for the grave to remain in place. The stone for the cross came from the Houses of Parliament in London. The site is now recognised as a war grave, designated the Livry (Le Repas) Isolated Grave.

A memorial service was held at St. Margaret's, Westminster on 27 September 1944.{{Cite news|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=vglam&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=&docId=CS118177591&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|title=Court Circular|date=23 September 1944|work=The Times|issue=49963|page=7}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{hansard-contribs | hon-george-grey | George Charles Grey }}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|uk}}

{{succession box

| title = MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed

| years = 1941–1944

| before = Sir Hugh Michael Seely

| after = William Beveridge

}}

{{succession box

| title = Baby of the House

| years = 1941–1944

| before = John Profumo

| after = John Profumo

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, George Charles}}

Category:1918 births

Category:1944 deaths

Category:Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:UK MPs 1935–1945

Category:Grenadier Guards officers

Category:British Army personnel killed in World War II

Category:Deaths by firearm in France