Harrogate Herald - 14th February 1917

Roll of Honour

Lieutenant J A Groves, Yorkshire Regiment, of York House, Harrogate, is in Somerville Hospital, Oxford, suffering from a septic wound in the ankle received in the Somme on December 9th. Lieutenant Groves was previously in the Suvla Bay fighting in Gallipoli, and was afterwards in action in Egypt, near he Suez canal, without hurt until he got to the Western front.

W H Breare letter

I want to tell you about a Harrogate boy you know very well by sight if not by name. He is only a little 'un. Lieutenant J A Groves is of a Yorkshire Regiment. He was in the Sulva Bay campaign, Egypt, Suez Canal, and also fought through the Somme. He has seen what few of our brave soldiers have experienced and come out alive. On December 19th, 1916, he was wounded - septic wound in the ankle and muscles of his heart strained. Both took place at Beaumont Hamel. He is now in Somerville Hospital, Oxford. This is one of those cases which have brought home to us the fact that bulk of body is not everything. May his recovery be speedy.