William James Grant

I mate atu i te 5 Dec 1943

Nama Hōia: 280263 AWMM
Ingoa kārangaranga: Bill AWMM
Te Ope o Tū / te peka: Army AWMM
Te tūnga whakamutunga: Private AWMM 22 Infantry Battalion AWMM
Pakanga: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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William Grant is the son of William and Helen Grant, of Wellington, New Zealand. AWMM
William (Bill) James Grant, No 280263.
William was the son of William Grant and Helen Watson of Wellington, New Zealand. They had three sons, William, Armand and Graham.
Bill was a year older than Pete and were good mates most of the time. The family lived in Hopper Street and the boys went to school at Mt Cook. They played Winter Rugby and Summer Softball for the Athletic Clubs. They were a popular pair who enjoyed parties and dancing with their girl friends. Bill worked for Bonds Hosiery in Tasman Street for a few years before the war, one of the many who sent newsletters to all their staff who enlisted for overseas. Their brother, Graham who was ten years younger, admired them both. They sent him letters and gifts from Egypt that he kept for many years.
Bill and Pete Grant enlisted together in 1941 and began their army training near Wellington. Bill had a large party for his twenty-first birthday, Pete was demoted from Lance Corporal for absconding from camp to attend. They embarked at Wellington on 11 December 1942 on HMT Aquitania as part of the 8th Reinforcements (along with 28 (Maori) Battalion. Sailing via Fremantle and Aden, they arrived in Port Tewfik, Egypt, 5 Jan 1943. Holidaying in Egypt was interrupted, at times, by army training. The North African campaign ended in May 1943 and preparations were made for landings in Italy.
Bill and Pete were now part of 22 (Motor) Battalion. Bloodied in Greece and Cyprus, the battalion had now been reformed into a mobile unit, self-supporting and with a range of weapons. The battalion could be rapidly deployed in a defence or attack role as needed. They left Alexandria on 19 October 1943 for Taranto, Italy. Much of the terrain they would encounter consisted of valleys and steep sided hills with roads running along the ridges. They drove north in good weather to join the 8th Army who were about to cross the Sangro River.
The crossing was delayed for a week due to flooding. The attack began on the night of 26-27 November with an all-mighty barrage as the British forces advanced. 22 Battalion's turn came on 30 November, the thundering columns of tanks, trucks and artillery crossed the long TIKI bailey bridge and moved towards the Barone hills. Encountering mines, booby traps and shelling they advanced towards Orsogna.
By 3 December they had reached a small village called Salarola by an important cross-roads leading to Orsogna and Guardiagrele. Intense fighting took place over the next few days. Tank battles and infantry attacks occurred under almost constant shelling. The battalion held their ground until 6 December when they were relieved by a British regiment. Bill Grant was one of the many casualties. He was killed on 5 December 1943 and finally laid to rest on 24 July 1944 in the Sangro River Military Cemetery.
His brother Pete and 22 Battalion carried on with the fight through Italy before he too was killed in October 1944.
Public - Steve - Other relative - 23 September 2022 - Family history, Battalion Unit history.

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William James Grant

William James Grant

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