George Gristock
Company Sergeant-Major, Royal Norfolk Regiment
- Register No.
- 499 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Company Sergeant-Major (register: Company Sergeant Major) all Company Sergeant-Majors →
- Unit
- Royal Norfolk Regiment all Royal Norfolk Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 May 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd August, 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 14th January, 1905 at Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
- Died
- 16th June 1940 at Brighton, Sussex. (Died on of wounds)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex
Digest of citation
On 21st May, 1940 near the River Escaut, Belgium, Company Sergeant-Major Gristock organised a party of eight Riflemen and went forward to cover the company's right flank, where the enemy had broken through. He then went on with one man under heavy fire and was severely wounded in both legs, but having gained his fire position undetected, he managed to put out of action a machine gun, which was inflicting heavy casualties and kill the crew of four. He then dragged himself back to the right flank position but refused to be evacuated until contact with the battalion had been established. He later Died on of his wounds
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRISTOCK, George. (reg No. 499).
Company Sergeant-Major. Royal Norfolk Regiment.
London Gazetted on 23rd August, 1940.
Born on 14th January, 1905 at Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa.
Died on 16th June 1940 at Brighton, Sussex. (Died on of wounds) .
Memorial on grave at Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex.
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st May, 1940 near the River Escaut, Belgium, Company Sergeant-Major Gristock organised a party of eight Riflemen and went forward to cover the company's right flank, where the enemy had broken through. He then went on with one man under heavy fire and was severely wounded in both legs, but having gained his fire position undetected, he managed to put out of action a machine gun, which was inflicting heavy casualties and kill the crew of four. He then dragged himself back to the right flank position but refused to be evacuated until contact with the battalion had been established. He later Died on of his wounds.
Register note: Died of wounds
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex
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