Robert Cuthbert Grieve
Captain, 37th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 495 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 37th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force (register: 37th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 2nd August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 19th June 1889 at Brighton, Melbourne, Australia
- Died
- 4th October 1957 at Melbourne, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Spring Vale Cemetery, Melbourne and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
On 7th June, 1917 at Messines, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy's position, and after his own company had suffered very heavy casualties, Captain Grieve located two hostile machine guns which were holding up his advance. Under continuous heavy fire from the two guns, he succeeded in bombing and killing the two gun crews, then reorganised the remnants of his own company and gained the original objective. Captain Grieve set a splendid example and when he finally fell, wounded, the position had been secured
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRIEVE, Robert Cuthbert. (reg No. 495).
Captain. 37th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 2nd August 1917.
Born on 19th June 1889 at Brighton, Melbourne, Australia.
Died on 4th October 1957 at Melbourne, Australia.
Memorial on grave at Spring Vale Cemetery, Melbourne and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 7th June, 1917 at Messines, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy's position, and after his own company had suffered very heavy casualties, Captain Grieve located two hostile machine guns which were holding up his advance. Under continuous heavy fire from the two guns, he succeeded in bombing and killing the two gun crews, then reorganised the remnants of his own company and gained the original objective. Captain Grieve set a splendid example and when he finally fell, wounded, the position had been secured.
Additional information:. Captain Grieve was the son of John and Annie Deas Grieve. Educated at Caulfield Grammar-School and also at Wesley College, Victoria, Australia. On 9th June 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a Private. He was given a commission in January 1916 in the 37th Battalion (Victoria). He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1916 and to Captain in February the following year, 1917. He was sent to France and saw service to Armentieres, Bois Grenier, L'Epinette,Ploogsteert Wood, Messines, (where he won the VC), La Basse Ville and Warneton. He was married to Mary Isabel, daughter of Mr and Mrs A.C.M.Bowman of Plinlimmon, Kurrajong, Australia, at Scots Church, Sydney, on 7th August 1918. Mrs Isabel Grieve served as a nursing sister with the AIF the three years. She had first met her husband at a casualty clearing centre and had nursed him through very serious illness. He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 28th June 1918. He held the rank of Captain in the Australian Army Reserve. He was a member of the firm Grieve, Gardner and Company. He was the great nephew of Sergeant-Major John Grieve VC. (reg No. 494).
Additional information
Captain Grieve was the son of John and Annie Deas Grieve. Educated at Caulfield Grammar-School and also at Wesley College, Victoria, Australia. On 9th June 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a Private. He was given a commission in January 1916 in the 37th Battalion (Victoria). He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1916 and to Captain in February the following year, 1917. He was sent to France and saw service to Armentieres, Bois Grenier, L'Epinette,Ploogsteert Wood, Messines, (where he won the VC), La Basse Ville and Warneton. He was married to Mary Isabel, daughter of Mr and Mrs A.C.M.Bowman of Plinlimmon, Kurrajong, Australia, at Scots Church, Sydney, on 7th August 1918. Mrs Isabel Grieve served as a nursing sister with the AIF the three years. She had first met her husband at a casualty clearing centre and had nursed him through very serious illness. He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 28th June 1918. He held the rank of Captain in the Australian Army Reserve. He was a member of the firm Grieve, Gardner and Company. He was the great nephew of Sergeant-Major John Grieve VC. (reg No. 494).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Spring Vale Cemetery, Melbourne and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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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