Robert Cuthbert Grieve
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| Robert Cuthbert Grieve | |
|---|---|
| June 19, 1889 – October 4, 1957 (aged 68) | |
| Place of birth | Brighton, Victoria |
| Place of death | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Allegiance | First Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1915-1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | A Company, 37th Battalion, 3rd Division |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Messines |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Robert Cuthbert Grieve VC (June 19, 1889–October 4, 1957), son of John and Annie Deas Grieve (née Brown), was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the great nephew of Sergeant-Major John Grieve, also a Victoria Cross recipient. He attended Caulfield Grammar School and Wesley College, both in Melbourne, Australia.
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[edit] Victoria Cross
He enlisted in the A.I.F.m as a private on June 9, 1915. In January 1916 he was given a commission in 37th Battalion (Victoria). He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1916 and to Captain in February 1917.
He was sent to France and served at Armentières, Bois-Grenier, L'Epinette, Ploegsteert Wood, Messines, La Bassée Ville, and Warneton.
He won the VC at Messines. The Digest of Citation reads:
On 7 June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy's position, and after his own company had suffered very heavy casualties, Captain Grieve located two hostile machine-guns which were holding up his advance. Under continuous heavy fire from the two guns, he succeeded in bombing and killing the two gun crews, then reorganized the remnants of his own company and gained his original objective. Captain Grieve set a splendid example and when he finally fell, wounded, the position had been secured.
Grieve's medal has been loaned by the family to Wesley College, Melbourne and has been on-lent to the Shrine of Remembrance, where it is on display.
[edit] Marriage
He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 28th June 1918, due to acute trench nephritis and double pneumonia. He married Mary Isabel Bowman, who was serving as a nursing sister in the AIF at the casualty clearing centre and has nursed his through his illness in France, in Sydney on August 7 1918.
[edit] Demobilization
He held the rank of Captain in the Australian Army Reserve. He established the business of Grieve, Gardner & Co., softgoods warehousemen, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
