John Henry Cound Brunt
Captain, The Sherwood Foresters. (the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) attchd 6th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 139 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain (register: Temp. Captain) all Captains →
- Unit
- The Sherwood Foresters. (the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) attchd 6th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment (register: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)) all Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 December 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 8th February, 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 6th December 1922 at Priest Weston, Chirbury, Shropshire
- Died
- 10th December 1944 at Faenza, Italy
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Faenza War Cemetery , Italy and in the Soldier's Chapel of St George, Lincoln Cathedral
- Medal held by
- the The Lincolnshire Life Museum
Digest of citation
On 9th December 1944 near Faenza, Italy, the house round which Captain Brooks platoon was dug in, was destroyed by intense mortar fire. The captain rallying his remaining men and moving to an alternative position, continued to hold the enemy although heavily outnumbered. Personally firing a Bren gun he killed about 14 and then, his ammunition exhausted, he fired a Piat and two-inch mortar left by casualties. The aggressive defence enabled him to reoccupy his previous position and to get his wounded away. Later he showed similar aggressive and inspiring leadership which caused the final withdrawal of the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BRUNT, John Henry Cound. (reg No. 139).
Captain The Sherwood Foresters. (the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) attchd 6th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 8th February, 1945.
VC Medal's Custodian is the The Lincolnshire Life Museum.
Born on 6th December 1922 at Priest Weston, Chirbury, Shropshire.
Died on 10th December 1944 at Faenza, Italy.
Memorial at Faenza War Cemetery , Italy and in the Soldier's Chapel of St George, Lincoln Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th December 1944 near Faenza, Italy, the house round which Captain Brooks platoon was dug in, was destroyed by intense mortar fire. The captain rallying his remaining men and moving to an alternative position, continued to hold the enemy although heavily outnumbered. Personally firing a Bren gun he killed about 14 and then, his ammunition exhausted, he fired a Piat and two-inch mortar left by casualties. The aggressive defence enabled him to reoccupy his previous position and to get his wounded away. Later he showed similar aggressive and inspiring leadership which caused the final withdrawal of the enemy.
Additional information: Captain Brunt also held the Military Cross.
Additional information
Captain Brunt also held the Military Cross
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Faenza War Cemetery , Italy and in the Soldier's Chapel of St George, Lincoln Cathedral
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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