A Weaver at Waterloo Review
Guardsman John Grimshaw
Researching family history is a popular pastime; Anne Grimshaw’s research into her namesake began by searching the National Archives’ database of old soldiers’ discharge papers. Amongst them was that of John Grimshaw who came from Anne’s neck of the woods in Lancashire.
Additional searches in parish records of his family’s village of Church Kirk, revealed the names of his parents and siblings and the date of his christening. From all of these Anne was able to draw a good picture of his life before he joined the Army – the grinding poverty, the struggle to make a living by hand-loom weaving and the harsh living conditions.
With the onset of winter it is easy to see how the Army offered an attractive alternative. He would be fed, clothed and housed, and according to the recruiting sergeant, adventure and glory lay ahead.
John Grimshaw’s military service Began when he joined the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards in the army of Arthur Wellesley (later to become the Duke of Wellington) in Portugal in 1810. The clasps on his Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 showed that he had fought in the battles of Bussaco, Fuentes de Oñoro, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca. Besides these, there would have been numerous skirmishes as the armies fought it out across the Iberian Peninsular.
John Grimshaw was wounded in the heroic defence of the chateau of Hougoumont during the battle of Waterloo in 1815 for which he was awarded the Waterloo Medal. He was discharged from the army three years later.
One last gem from Anne’s research was that John’s wife Phoebe (néeTomlinson) had been a Luddite, smashing the steam-powered looms, which were the ruin of the hand-loom weavers and being sentenced to twelve months with hard labour in Preston House of Correction two years before she married John.
For me, this was one of the most fascinating talks I have listened to. The delivery and the illustrations were of a truly professional quality. Nick Hallidie, Chairman, Sudbury Society
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