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<span class=prefix>CPT</span> John Hollington Grayburn

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CPT John Hollington Grayburn Veteran Famous memorial

Birth
Karachi District, Sindh, Pakistan
Death
20 Sep 1944 (aged 26)
Arnhem, Arnhem Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands
Burial
Oosterbeek, Renkum Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands GPS-Latitude: 51.9940611, Longitude: 5.847036
Plot
13.C.11.
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Manora Island, India, he served as a Lieutenant in A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, British Army. On September 20, 1944, the Germans attempted to destroy the Arnhem Bridge, Netherlands. Lieutenant Grayburn led a charge, was wounded and forced the enemy to flee while Royal Engineers removed the fuses. With a bandage on his head and his arm in a sling, he continued to command a platoon when another attempt was made by the Germans to destroy the bridge. Lieutenant Grayburn once again led a patrol onto the bridge to remove the actual charges, when an enemy tank began firing. His men were suffering heavy casualties, but the charges were removed and Lieutenant Grayburn ordered the withdrawal. He stood up in full view of the tank, directing his men to safe positions and was riddled with bullets at point blank range from the tank's machinegun. He fell dead into the river and his body was lost. For unparalleled devotion to duty, he was posthumously promoted to Captain and awarded the Victoria Cross on January 25, 1945. In 1948, Lieutenant Grayburn's body was found and buried with honors at the Arnhem Oosterbeer War Cemetery, The Netherlands.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Manora Island, India, he served as a Lieutenant in A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, British Army. On September 20, 1944, the Germans attempted to destroy the Arnhem Bridge, Netherlands. Lieutenant Grayburn led a charge, was wounded and forced the enemy to flee while Royal Engineers removed the fuses. With a bandage on his head and his arm in a sling, he continued to command a platoon when another attempt was made by the Germans to destroy the bridge. Lieutenant Grayburn once again led a patrol onto the bridge to remove the actual charges, when an enemy tank began firing. His men were suffering heavy casualties, but the charges were removed and Lieutenant Grayburn ordered the withdrawal. He stood up in full view of the tank, directing his men to safe positions and was riddled with bullets at point blank range from the tank's machinegun. He fell dead into the river and his body was lost. For unparalleled devotion to duty, he was posthumously promoted to Captain and awarded the Victoria Cross on January 25, 1945. In 1948, Lieutenant Grayburn's body was found and buried with honors at the Arnhem Oosterbeer War Cemetery, The Netherlands.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


Inscription

PARACHUTE REGIMENT
ARMY AIR CORPS
FORMERLY OXF. & BUCKS L.I.

“YET SHALL HE LIVE”
ST. JOHN XI

Gravesite Details

Van Limburg Stirumweg 28, 6861 WL Oosterbeek



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: The Silent Forgotten
  • Added: Oct 23, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8016333/john_hollington-grayburn: accessed ), memorial page for CPT John Hollington Grayburn (30 Jan 1918–20 Sep 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8016333, citing Arnhem War Cemetery, Oosterbeek, Renkum Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands; Maintained by Find a Grave.