082 Grant VC Street Hawera, street scene 2017
Reason for the name
Grant VC Street was named in honour of John Gildroy GRANT, VC, 1st Battalion Wellington Infantry Regiment
The three Streets in Hawera, Grant V.C Street, Laurent V.C Street and Dixon Avenue are designed to represent the shape of two V’s and two C’s to commemorate the awards won.
Author: Glen Hansen Community Development Advisor
Jack Grant was born in Hawera on the 26 August 1889.
Prior to World War I Jack worked as a builder and contractor in the Taranaki area.
He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 14 June 1915 and embarked for Egypt with the 7th Reinforcements to the NZEF in October. He joined the Taranaki Company of the 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment in France in 1916.
In two years of fighting in Belgium and France, Grant rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On 1 September 1918, aged 29, he was in command of a platoon during an attack on Bancourt Ridge.
“On reaching the crest, it was found that a line of five enemy machine-gun posts offered a serious obstacle to further advance.
When about twenty yards from the posts, Sergeant Grant 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. Throughout the whole operation Sergeant Grant displayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order and set a splendid example to all.”
For this action Sergeant Grant was awarded the Victoria Cross.
In early 1919 Grant was commissioned, to second lieutenant and traveled to Cambridge in England for officer training in October 1918. He was wounded in November, within days of his return to the front. His service with the NZEF ended with his repatriation to New Zealand in 1919, and leaving the Army in 1920. After later service in the Territorial Force he retired in 1929 with the rank of Lieutenant.
Following the end of his service career, Grant lived in Taranaki and in Auckland where he continued to work as a builder, owned a small business, and was a keen follower of horse racing.
There is a plaque in the grounds of the Hawera Water Tower under the tree planted by Jack Grant at the conclusion of the First World War; it reads “This oak tree was planted by J.G. Grant V.C in commemoration of the conclusion of hostilities, the Great War 1914-1918.
Jack Grant died in Auckland on 25 November 1970, aged 81. He was cremated and is one of three Victoria Cross winners buried at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland.Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- ·Grave reference
Soldiers Burial M Row 9, Plot 95
Jack Grant's Victoria Cross and other medals are shared between displays at Puki Ariki, New Plymouth and at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand
