Robert Grant (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Robert Grant VC
(1837 – 23 November 1874) was an English
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.
(subsequently promoted to sergeant
) in the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot (later The Northumberland Fusiliers), British Army
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at Alumbagh for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the London Gazette
of 19 June 1860, and initially Grant was incorrectly named as Ewart, which was corrected in a subsequent Gazette of 12 October 1860. The citation read:
in the Metropolitan Police
, and served in the Y Division Holloway
area until his death of what was then commonly known as consumption
in 1874. He was buried, at the expense of the parish, in a paupers' grave, number 15054, in Highgate Cemetery
, North London.
A replica of his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Northumberland Fusiliers Museum
in Alnwick Castle
in Northumberland
.
In 2007 and 2008 moves were made to properly commemorate both his military and police service with a memorial stone to be unveiled by the head of London's police service
, Sir Ian Blair
. He is also commemorated in his home town of Harrogate
with a plaque at the War Memorial.
The military artist David Rowlands has depicted the action at Alumbagh in an oil painting.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(1837 – 23 November 1874) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Military service
Grant was approximately 20 years old, and a corporalCorporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
(subsequently promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
) in the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot (later The Northumberland Fusiliers), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at Alumbagh for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 19 June 1860, and initially Grant was incorrectly named as Ewart, which was corrected in a subsequent Gazette of 12 October 1860. The citation read:
Police service
He later became a constableConstable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
in the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
, and served in the Y Division Holloway
Holloway, London
Holloway is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Islington located north of Charing Cross and follows for the most part, the line of the Holloway Road . At the centre of Holloway is the Nag's Head area...
area until his death of what was then commonly known as consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1874. He was buried, at the expense of the parish, in a paupers' grave, number 15054, in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
, North London.
A replica of his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Northumberland Fusiliers Museum
Northumberland Fusiliers Museum
The Northumberland Fusiliers Museum is a museum located within the Abbot's Tower of Alnwick Castle in Alnwick, Northumberland, England.The museum is an independent charitable trust....
in Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. It is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:Alnwick...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
In 2007 and 2008 moves were made to properly commemorate both his military and police service with a memorial stone to be unveiled by the head of London's police service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, Sir Ian Blair
Ian Blair
Ian Warwick Blair, Baron Blair of Boughton, QPM is a retired British Police officer who held the position of commissioner of police of the metropolis from 2005 to 2008 and was the highest ranking officer within the Metropolitan Police Service.On 2 October 2008 Blair announced that he would...
. He is also commemorated in his home town of Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
with a plaque at the War Memorial.
The military artist David Rowlands has depicted the action at Alumbagh in an oil painting.
External links
- Image of Fusilier Museum display with tinted photograph of Grant in uniform and his VC medal
- Location of grave and VC medal (N. London)