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Grant, John Duncan

Date of birth:
December 28th, 1877 (Roorkee, British India)
Date of death:
February 20th, 1967 (Royal Tunbridge Wells/Kent, United Kingsom)
Buried on:
Tunbridge Wells Cemetery
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Colonel John Duncan served in Tibet, during the First World War, in Afghanistan and finally in Waziristan. Hist last post was as ceremonial Colonel in the 10th Gurkha Rifles from 1934 to 1947.

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Rank:
Lieutenant
Unit:
8th Gurkha Rifles
Awarded on:
January 24th, 1905
"On the occasion of the storming of the Gyantse Jong on 6th July, 1904, the storming Company, headed by Lieutenant Grant, on emerging from the cover of the village, had to advance up a bare, almost precipitous, rock-face, with little or no cover available, and under a heavy fire from the curtain, flanking towers on both sides of the curtain, and other buildings higher up the Jong. Showers of rocks and stones were at the time being hurled down the hillside by the enemy from above. One man could only go up at a time, crawling on hands and knees, to the breach in the curtain.

Lieutenant Grant, followed by Havildar Karbir Pun, 8th Gurkha Rifles, at once attempted to scale it, but on reaching near the top he was wounded, and hurled back, as was also the Havildar, who fell down the rock some 30 feet. Regardless of their injuries they again attempted to scale the breach, and, covered by the fire of the men below, were successful in their object, the Havildar shooting one of the enemy on gaining the top. The successful issue of the assault was very greatly due to the splendid example shown by Lieutenant Grant and Havildar Karbir Pun.

The latter has been recommended for the Indian Order of Merit."
Victoria Cross (VC)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Brigade Major
Unit:
8th Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army
Awarded on:
1917
Mentioned in Dispatches
For services in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Unit:
3/11 Gurkha Rifles
Awarded on:
1919
For services in Afghanistan
Mentioned in Dispatches
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
3/11 Gurkha Rifles, Waziristan Force, British Indian Army
Awarded on:
October 23rd, 1921
For distinguished service rendered in the Field with the Waziristan Force, 1920-1921.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Rank:
Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
3/11 Gurkha Rifles, Waziristan Force, British Indian Army
Awarded on:
1921
For his service in Waziristan.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Rank:
Colonel
Unit:
Headquarters British Indian Army
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1929

HM birthday honours
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Unit:
8th Gurkha Rifles

With "Gyantse" clasp
Tibet Medal

With 3 clasps:
"Afghanistan NWF 1919"
"Waziristan 1919-21"
"Mahsud 1919-20"
India General Service Medal (1909 IGSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Colonel

Ceremonial Colonel of the 10th Gurkha Rifles
Defence Medal 1939-1945
King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
King George VI Coronation Medal

Sources

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