George Gristock

George Gristock VC (14 January 1905 – 16 June 1940) was a South African serving in the British Army and 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.

Biography

Gristock was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa but emigrated to the UK before the Second World War. He was 35 years old, and a Warrant Officer Class II holding the appointment of company sergeant major in 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, British Army during the Second World War. During the Battle of Belgium the 2nd Battalion was part of the British Expeditionary Force.

On 21 May 1940 near the River Escaut, Belgium, south of Tournai. Company Sergeant-Major Gristock organized a party of eight riflemen and went forward to cover the company's right flank, where the enemy had broken through. He then went on with one man under heavy fire and was severely wounded in both legs, but having gained his fire position undetected, he managed to put out of action a machine-gun which was inflicting heavy casualties and kill the crew of four. He then dragged himself back to the right flank position but refused to be evacuated until contact with the battalion had been established. He later died of his wounds. The Times later reported, "By his gallant action the position of the company was secured, and many casualties prevented."

Gristock is buried at Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex, England in the War Graves Section (Plot Z.G.L. Grave 28).<ref>CWGC entry</ref><ref name="VC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Victoria Cross citation

The announcement and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in supplement to the London Gazette on 23 August 1940.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Template:Quote

The medal

Gristock's Victoria Cross is in the collection of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum in Norwich Castle, England.<ref name="RegimentMuseum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Guards VC: Blitzkrieg 1940 (Dilip Sarkar, 1999)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Warrant Officer Second Class G. Gristock in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• Location of grave and VC medal (East Sussex)
• London Gazette entry at National Archives
• Picture at Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum website
• Picture of George from the Norwich Evening News