Private Peter Grundy, of Lower Highland Road in Ryde, was killed by an explosion in Forkhill, Northern Ireland on 16th December 1979 – 45 years ago today.
Peter was born on the Isle of Wight in 1958 and enlisted in the army in 1979.
The 21-year-old had been in the RAF training corps from the age of 13. He had always wanted a military career, so when he was turned down by the RAF, he decided to join the Parachute Regiment.
Peter narrowly escaped death at the Warrenpoint bombing in August 1979, when 18 members of 2 PARA were killed (on the same day as Lord Mountbatten), by transferring at the last moment from the vehicle hit by the first blast to a Land Rover that was less exposed to the explosion.
He was killed a few months later by a booby trap bomb in a remote farmhouse near Tullydonnel, Forkhill.
Pte Peter Grundy died on 16 December 1979, aged 21 years, and is now buried at Ryde Old Parish Cemetery on the Isle of Wight.
Pete’s stepmother Shirley Grundy said shortly after his death:
“He was an eager young soldier. He joined the Parachute Regiment a year ago. After Warrenpoint he seemed to grow up. He lost many friends and that changed him.
Article continues below this advertisement “He had just been sent to Northern Ireland when Warrenpoint happened. He did not talk about it much but I gather he had been in the first Land Rover which was blown up.
“There was some trouble about weight, so he left his kit in there and went to the next Land rover.
“He narrowly missed being hit by the second bomb and had a number of near misses since.
“He did not seem to have any qualms about going back to Ireland but the family were not happy.”
One of Private Grundy’s last moments before joining up was to meet Lord Mountbatten, who presented him with a trophy for a pentathlon event on the Isle of Wight.
Peter is buried at Ryde Old Parish Cemetery.
It’s a great shame his final resting place is in need of attention. He deserves that.
Would do it, but no longer a caulkhead.
Once a Caulkhead always a Caulkhead
Lol
The Council should look after ex servicemens
graves.
People join up and when they leave the service
many of them end up on the streets homeless.
My motto is don’t join up in the first place, let
Politicians and their children go to war, after all
they are responsible for wars, not Joe Public.
My immediate thoughts too. I’m also no longer an Island resident. My local Parish Council in West Sussex has only recently marked the loss, over 100 years ago, of local soldiers at the Somme – over 100 years ago. It’s never too late to make good.
Surely some Isle of Wight group, or individuals, could stump up to give this brave young man a decent grave.
Same here friend. Actually now in NI.
RIP young man.
From one old soldier to another, I’ll take care of it, the ultimate sacrifice, enough said. RESPECT.
Well done @Samolea.
Perhaps speak to the guys at the Veterans Hub or Hotel in Ryde?