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Cenotaph record

John Gildroy Grant

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J.G. Grant is on the right beside fellow VC recipients Harry Laurent and Leslie Andrew (middle). - No known copyright restrictions

J.G. Grant is on the right beside fellow VC recipients Harry Laurent and Leslie Andrew (middle). - N …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Gildroy AWMM
  • Surname
    Grant AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    John Gilroy AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 10/2950 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    26 August 1889 AWMM Hawera, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW1 Pre Jun 1915 AWMM Hawera, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Builder/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 Mrs J. Grant (mother), Princess Street, Hawera, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 9 October 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    • 1914-1919 Western Front AWMM
    • 1914-1916 Egypt AWMM
    • Le Quesnoy AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 10/2950 AWMM
  • Military service
    Territorial Force until 1929 AWMM
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
      London Gazette 27 November 1918, Supplement 31034 p.14040 "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Bancourt on the 1st September 1918, when sergeant in command of a platoon forming part of the leading waves of the battalion attacking the high ground to the east of Bancourt. On reaching the crest it was found that a line of five enemy machine-gun posts offered a serious obstacle to further advance. Under point-blank fire, however, the company advanced against these posts. When about twenty yards from the posts Sergeant Grant, closely followed by a comrade, rushed forward ahead of his platoon, and with great dash and bravery entered the centre post, demoralizing the garrison and enabling the men of his platoon to mop up the position, In the same manner he rushed the post on the left, and the remaining posts were quickly occupied and cleared by his company. Throughout the whole operation on this and two previous days Sergeant Grant displayed coolness, determination, and valour of the highest order, and set a splendid example to all." AWMM
    • 1914-1915 Star AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM
    • Coronation Medal 1937 AWMM
    • Coronation Medal 1953 AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    Officer training at Cambridge, England in October 1918 AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 Jun 1915 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM
    Builder/Civilian AWMM
    AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
    Wounded November 1918 AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • John Grant returned to New Zealand in 1919 and continued to serve in the Territorials until retiring with the rank of Lieutenant in 1929.

    His medals are held by the National Army Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand and Puke Ariki.

    Middle name incorrectly spelt as Gilroy in Nominal Roll.

    Awarded the VC in recognition of John Grant's "most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" shown on 1 September 1918, during his company's attacks on enemy positions that occupied high ground east of Bancourt, France. The platoon he was leading encountered a line of five enemy machine gun posts that formed a formidable obstacle to the advance. He initiated and led successful attacks on these positions. The citation refers to the fact that Sergeant Grant on this and two previous days "displayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order". (from Grant Anderson's Decorations for outstanding gallantry) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    25 November 1970 AWMM
    Age 82 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Plot 95, Row 9, Soldiers Burial M, Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Death Notice: New Zealand Herald, 26 November 1970 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM

Roll of Honour

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  • CENTURY
    John carpenter by trade;my VC granted eastern Bancourt our raid
    This first September,"1918"fives a gunner,i'll clear them between
    Follows hasty 'Firsts Battalion' fellow comrade a team!
    We are facing their ire obstinate hence
    Twenty yards gaining;a victory sensed.
    In passing the crest sights barrels fray
    My ploy "Gildroy;"overwhelmed fought I slay
    Promptly a gauche we round them,accompanied in wade
    Of three remnants others,fallen hapless,urged bravely my 'brothers'
    Away from these trenches Britain Cambridge I go
    A secound lieutenant;upwards an officer I owe
    Back to the front,only days encumbered wounds November a blow.
    This year now ended 1919,alone from war tried I redeem
    My footing 'New Zealand;'soldiers my past I am weaned.

    Copyright:N.J.Deller 4/9/17 "Condition of strain emotions pain"
    Public - Nathan John - 9 September 2017
    Report 
  • I'm a member of the Eltham Volunteer Fire Brigade on our Hours Board we have R Grant VC as an ex member of our fire Brigade, but we have not got records that tell us the dates he served here can anyone help or know when he lived in Eltham and for what period of time also what work he may have done thank you Dennis
    Public - Reginald Dennis - Researcher - 12 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
09 September 2017Nathan JohnHettstedt GermanyOther
25 June 2017JeniferWairarapaResearcher
12 April 2015Reginald DennisEltham South TaranakiResearcher

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