Brian Place, Titahi Bay, Porirua
Reason for the name
1813 Lieutenant Brian Bentley Graves – F Troop, 26th Battery, 5th Field Regiment, NZ Artillery, killed in action in Italy 29 July 1944
Lieutenant Graves as the newly-appointed commander of F Troop, was killed in action on 29 July 1944 at San Michele, south of Florence. He was being taken by his battery commander, Major Carson, forward to the observation post (OP) when a shell struck the scout car and killed both Lieutenant Graves and Gunner Ivan Harold Henry.
This story and place is from Poriruawarstories.com. The Remembrance Army earlier funded the new street blade for the poppy. Minor editing by Poppy Places.
Background to naming of the street in in "Council Records"
1813 Lieutenant Brian Bentley Graves – F Troop, 26th Battery, 5th Field Regiment, NZ Artillery
Brian Bentley Graves was born in Wellington on 14th January 1918 the youngest son of Daisy (nee Greenwood) and Horace Ivatt Graves[i].
Brian was raised in Wellington and went to Wellington College where he served four years in the cadets and following college, served in the Territorial’s 8th Battery, NZ Artillery[ii].
The Grave brothers Ian and Brian served in WW2 with Brian being killed in action.
Following the declaration of war on 1st September 1939, Brian was quick to enlist, signing enlistment forms and two weeks later entered camp on 14th October 1939. The 21 year old single man listed his occupation as a clerk for Dalgety’s Limited, Palmerston North and his next of kin as his father Mr H I Graves, Karori, Wellington. Brian also lists that he was living in Palmerston North when he enlisted.
On 5th January 1940 Gunner Graves left New Zealand for overseas service as part of the First Echelon, 2nd NZEF. On 1st June 1941 Gunner Graves was appointed to Lance Bombardier, he would see service in Egypt and then Greece and Crete
Lance Bombardier Graves was selected for officer training as his records note him as a Second Lieutenant and then a First Lieutenant on 28th February 1942.
Considering many of the early enlistment servicemen had seen active service for three years, a scheme ‘Waikatipu’ allowed those who had sailed first to war “first echelon men” to have a three-month furlough in New Zealand. Lt Graves returned to New Zealand on 21st October 1943.
Following furlough leave Lt Graves was used as an experienced combat officer with training new reinforcements. He left again for overseas service on 31st March 1944. Following arrival in Egypt Lieutenant Graves was then shipped to Italy.
During July 1944 the New Zealand Artillery was part of the advance to Florence. After the fall of Rome troops rested by the Liri river, training and recreation taking up the days until 7 July when orders were received that the Division should concentrate near Lake Trasimene.
After the taking of Rome by the Allies in June 1944 the Germans fell back to the Gothic Line. They needed time to consolidate this line. For their part the Allies aimed to reach the Northern Apennines before this consolidation could take place. The result was that as the Fifth Army advanced along the coast and the Eighth Army advanced further inland they found stiff resistance as the Germans sought to slow down Allied progress.
From 5 July the Allies encountered resolute resistance in defence of positions just south of a line Ancona-Arezzo-Leghorn and in particular on both sides of the Chiana valley.The Allied attack along this line began on 14/15 July. Within a week it had taken all the strong points of the German defences and had gained the ports of Ancona and Leghorn. The Americans reached the Arno on 4 August and on the 13 August the 8th Indian Division crossed the river and occupied Florence.
Lieutenant Graves as the newly-appointed commander of F Troop, was killed in action on 29 July 1944 at San Michele, south of Florence. He was being taken by his battery commander, Major Carson, forward to the observation post (OP) when a shell struck the scout car and killed both Lieutenant Graves and Gunner Ivan Harold Henry.’[iii]
Lt Brian Bentley Graves is buried in the Florence War Cemetery VII. C. 8.
434260 Gunner Ivan Harold Henry is buried beside Lt Graves.
There is a memorial plaque in the Karori Cemetery honouring Lt Brian B Graves.
Notes
Lieutenant Graves’ file was purged in 1949 so many details of his service record are not known.
1813 Lieutenant Brian Bentley Graves was suggested for the Porirua Memorial Wall but his name has not been inscribed as the connection to Titahi Bay is not clear.
