ADVENTUROUS CAREER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 78, 29 September 1930, Page 9

ADVENTUROUS CAREER

SERVICES IN WAR' TIME ■■ LONDON, 27th September

Though most famous for blowing up Messines: Ridge and destroying tho Rumanian oil wells in the Great War, Sir John Norton-Griffiths lived a most adventurous life. He sailed for Australia in a wiud-jaminer when seventeen, years old; lie ran away from the ship and remained for some time in Australia. He earned the name of "Empire Jack" for work done during the war.

The London manager of the firm this morning received a cablo froni Sir John reporting the progress of certain negotiations, but received wo hint that there was anything untoward.

1 Sir John Norton Griffiths was fiftynino years of iage, He was attached to the staff of the Engineer-in-chief, General Headquarters, during the Great War, his principal dutios being to organise and initiate tunnelling companies. He was mentioned in dispatches, three times. He also played a prominent part in the South African War.

, Sir John Norton-Griffiths was the first baronet of that name. He was a lieu-tenant-colonel in the 2nd King Edward's Horse, commanding the scouts in tho Boer War, being in the Brabant's Division of tho South African Field Force, and later Captain and Adjutant iii Lord Roberta's Bodyguard. In 1914 ho was granted authority to raise the King Edward's Horse for the European War and subsequently was attached to the staff of." tho Engineer-in-Chief to organise and initiate tunnolling companies. In both tho Boer War and. the Great War he was three times mentioned in despatches, received the D.5.0., and was made a G.S.O. Ist Grade, and sent to Rumania on a special mission in connection with corn and oil stores. In 1!>16 he received the Order of the Grand Star of Rumania, was made an Officer of the Legion ol! Honour, and obtained the Order of St. Vladimir and a K.C.B. Ho , was n ■ member oi 1 Parliament for Wedncsbury from 1910 to 1918, and for Wandsworth' Central from 1918 to 1924, His baronetcy was conferred in 1922 for valuable war services. '