John Gilroy Grant
Sergeant (later Lieutenant), 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, NZEF
- Register No.
- 479 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (later Lieutenant) (register: Sergeant) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, NZEF all Wellington Infantry Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 1 September 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 27th November 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 26th August 1889 at Hawera, New Zealand
- Died
- 25th November 1970 at Auckland, New Zealand
- Memorial / grave
- Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
Digest of citation
On 1 september 1918 near Bancourt, France, the leading wave of the battalion on reaching a crest of high ground, found that a line of enemy machine-guns offered a serious obstacle to further advance. Thecompany, however, advanced against these posts under point -blank fire, and when about 20 yards away Sergeant Grant, closely followed by a comrade, rushed ahead of his platoon, entering the centre post and demoralising the garrisonso that the platoon were able to mop up the positions. In the same manner he rushed the post on the left and the remaining posts were quickly occupied and cleared by his company
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRANT, John Gilroy (Reg. No.479)
Sergeant (later Lieutenant) 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, NZEF.
London Gazetted on 27th November 1918.
Born on 26th August 1889 at Hawera, New Zealand.
Died on 25th November 1970 at Auckland, New Zealand.
Memorial at Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand.
Digest of Citation reads: On 1 september 1918 near Bancourt, France, the leading wave of the battalion on reaching a crest of high ground, found that a line of enemy machine-guns offered a serious obstacle to further advance. Thecompany, however, advanced against these posts under point -blank fire, and when about 20 yards away Sergeant Grant, closely followed by a comrade, rushed ahead of his platoon, entering the centre post and demoralising the garrisonso that the platoon were able to mop up the positions. In the same manner he rushed the post on the left and the remaining posts were quickly occupied and cleared by his company.
Additional information: The Victoria Cross 1856-1920 states a more detailed citation than the above, adding, "Throughout the whole operation on this and the two previous days, Sergeant Grant sisplayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order, and set a splendid example to all."
Additional information
The Victoria Cross 1856-1920 states a more detailed citation than the above, adding, "Throughout the whole operation on this and the two previous days, Sergeant Grant sisplayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order, and set a splendid example to all."
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
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