- John Duncan Grant
John Duncan Grant VC CB DSO (
28 December 1877 -20 February 1967 ) was a recipient of theVictoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Details
Born at
Roorkee inIndia and educated atCheltenham College , he was 26 years old, and alieutenant in the8th Gurkha Rifles ,Indian Army during theArmed Mission to Tibet when, on6 July 1904 at the storming of the Gyantse Fortress,Tibet , the storming company, led by Lieutenant Grant, had to advance up a bare, almost precipitous rock-face with little cover and under heavy fire. Showers of rock and stones were being hurled down the hillside by the enemy and only one man could go up at a time, crawling on hands and knees. Lieutenant Grant and ahavildar attempted to scale the final defensive curtain, but on reaching the top they were both wounded and hurled back. Regardless of their injuries, they made another attempt and, covered by the fire of men below, were at last successful. Grant had a long military career, later achieving the rank ofColonel . He received theDistinguished Service Order in addition to his Victoria Cross, and was made aCompanion of the Bath . He died in Tunbridge Wells, aged 89 and was cremated in the town.External links
* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kent.htm Location of grave] "(Kent)"
* [http://www.dhs.kyutech.ac.jp/~ruxton/OC_victoria_crosses.html John GRANT of Cheltenham College]
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