John Gildroy Grant

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John Gildroy Grant
New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service1915–1929
RankLieutenant
UnitWellington Regiment
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsVictoria Cross

John Gildroy Grant,

First World War. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that could be awarded at the time to British and Commonwealth
forces.

Born in

Western Front in 1916. It was on 1 September 1918, during an engagement at Bancourt, France, that he attacked two machine-gun posts, which led to him being awarded with the VC. He ended the war as a second lieutenant. Discharged from the NZEF, he returned to civilian life and then joined the Territorial Force. In his later years, he struggled to hold down regular employment due to the effects of what was most likely post-traumatic stress disorder
. He died in 1970 at the age of 81.

Early life

John Grant was born on 26 August 1889 in Hāwera,[1] a small town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand.[2] He was one of the nine children of George and Jane Grant, who were both originally from Scotland.[3] He attended Hāwera Main School[4] and when his education was completed, he took up construction work.[5] A volunteer fireman,[6] he was working as a builder when he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in June 1915.[2]

First World War

At the time of Grant's enlistment, the main contingent of the NZEF, which had formed the

corporal.[5] A few months later, his battalion was one of the leading units in the Battle of Broodseinde.[11] It missed the First Battle of Passchendaele that followed a few days afterward and avoided the heavy casualties that befell the units involved.[12] In early 1918 he was made a sergeant.[5]

From late August to early September 1918, the New Zealand Division was engaged in the

London Gazette, and allowing his platoon to capture the Germans. Grant attacked another nearby machine-gun post in similar fashion and soon his platoon, and the rest of his company, were able to put the remaining posts out of action.[2] His battalion was relieved that evening.[13] While Hill was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his part in the operation of 1 September,[14] Grant was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).[2] The VC, instituted in 1856, was the highest gallantry award that could be bestowed on a soldier of the British Empire.[15]
The citation read:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Bancourt on the 1st September, 1918, when Serjeant 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 Sjt. Grant, closely followed by a comrade, rushed forward ahead of his platoon, and with great dash and bravery entered the centre post, demoralising the garrison and enabling the men of his platoon to mop up the position. In the same manner he then 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 the two previous days Sjt. Grant displayed coolness, determination, and valour of the highest order, and set a splendid example to all.

— London Gazette, No. 31034, 26 November 1918[16]
Archibald Frank Nicoll
in 1920

Shortly afterwards, Grant was promoted to

King George V in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 27 February 1919.[17] His service with the NZEF ended with his repatriation to New Zealand later that year.[1] His home town of Hāwera gave him a formal welcome on his return on 29 October and he was presented with an inscribed gold watch.[6]

Later life

In April 1921, Grant successfully stood for election as a city councillor for Hawera.[18] Later the same year, he was the best man at the wedding of Harry Laurent, another VC recipient who was also from Hawera.[19] Grant soon married as well, and had two children.[20]

Grant remained involved with military life, serving in the

bankrupt.[20] In 1934, his plight attracted the attention of the authorities. On investigation it was determined it was his own erratic behaviour that was the cause of his difficulties. Undiagnosed at the time, it is thought that Grant could have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.[2][5]

In 1937, Grant, along with several other VC recipients, was awarded the

King George VI to the British throne.[21] In 1953, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[22] He attended the VC centenary event held in London in 1956 and also the VC reunion in 1968. Due to his health at the time, the latter event required public donations to pay for his flights and medical care.[5]

In his final years, Grant became a

freemason and lived at the Masonic Village in Mount Roskill in Auckland.[5] He died on 25 November 1970 at the age of 81, and is buried in Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery.[2] Streets in Hāwera are named for both Grant and Laurent, in recognition of their VCs.[3][4] In September 2018, statues of Grant and Laurent were unveiled at Hāwera's Victoria Cross garden.[23]

Medals

Grant's VC, along with his

Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.[24]

Notes

Footnotes

  1. Reginald Judson and Harry Laurent, both second lieutenants.[17]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c "John Gildroy Grant". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 7 July 2022 – via Online Cenotaph.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper & Richardson 2007, pp. 169–171.
  3. ^ a b "Grant VC Street". Kete New Plymouth. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Town Beautifying". Hāwera & Normanby Star. Vol. XLII, no. XLII. 6 August 1923. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gliddon 2014, pp. 173–176.
  6. ^ a b "Lieut. Grant V.C. Welcomed Home". Hāwera & Normanby Star. No. LXXIV. 29 October 1919. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  7. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, pp. 114–115.
  8. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, p. 119.
  9. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, pp. 164–165.
  10. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, p. 171.
  11. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, pp. 215–216.
  12. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, pp. 223–224.
  13. ^ Cunningham, Treadwell & Hanna 1928, p. 286.
  14. ^ Polaschek 1982, p. 111.
  15. ^ O'Shea 2000, pp. 558–559.
  16. ^ "No. 31034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 November 1918. p. 14040.
  17. ^ a b "Four Victoria Cross Men". New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVI, no. 13170. 8 April 1919. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Hawera Borough Council". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. XLI, no. XLI. 29 April 1921. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Wedding: Laurent – Homewood". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. XLI, no. XLI. 23 August 1921. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Details Wanted on Flawed War Hero". Western Leader. Stuff. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  21. ^ "V.C's Honoured – Coronation Medals". Auckland Star. No. 155. 2 July 1937. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  22. ^ Taylor & Coddington 1994, p. 413.
  23. ^ Shaskey, Tara (14 September 2018). "Hundreds Turn Out to Remember War Heroes". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  24. ^ NZPA (16 February 2008). "Medals Stolen from Waiouru Army Museum Recovered". nzherald. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2018.

References

External links
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