News Story
At 4.55 this morning, exactly 100 years ago, New Zealand soldiers at the front in France began the next phase of their task: to wrestle the enemy from Bancourt Ridge, essential to the Allied advance. Men of the Wellington Regiment, a platoon led by Sergeant John Grant, found they were blocked, under heavy fire. Grant investigated and found five German emplacements. Undaunted, he ignored their fire, approached to within 50 meters of the first gun-post and, with another Kiwi, rushed and disarmed it, quickly carrying on to silence the other 4. For his actions John Gildroy Grant was awarded the highest honour for valour, the Victoria Cross. He was a foreman in the Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade when he enlisted for overseas duty. The award for his actions on Bancourt Ridge 100 years ago today make him unique among the many fire-fighters who have served our country in battle and conflict then, and ever since. Two other winners of the Victoria Cross were associated with, though not members of, fire brigades. Keith Elliott, VC, was chaplain to Wellington Fire Brigade and Reginald Judson, VC, DCM, MM, was a member of the Auckland Fire Board.
