Gort
Capt. and Bt. Maj; (A./Lt.-Col.) John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, Viscount Gort, D.S.O., M.V.O , M.C., 1st Bn. G. Gds.

For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and devotion to duty during the attack of the Guards Division on 27th September, 1918, across the Canal Du Nord, near Flesquieres, when in command of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, the leading battalion of the 3rd Guards Brigade. Under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire he led his battalion with great skill and determination to the " forming-up " ground, where very severe fire from artillery and machine guns was again encountered. Although wounded, he quickly grasped the situation, directed a platoon to proceed down a sunken road to make a flanking attack, and, under terrific fire, went across open ground to obtain the assistance of a Tank, which he personally led and directed to the best possible advantage. While thus fearlessly exposing himself, he was again severely wounded by a shell. Notwithstanding considerable loss of blood, after lying on a stretcher for awhile, lie insisted on getting up and personally directing the further attack. By his magnificent example of devotion to duty and utter disregard of personal safety all ranks were inspired to exert themselves to the utmost, and the attack resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine guns. Lt.-Col. Viscount Gort then proceeded to organise the defence of the captured position until he collapsed; even then he refused to leave the field until he had seen the " success signal" go up on the final objective. The successful advance of the battalion was mainly due to the valour, devotion and leadership of this very gallant officer. LG 26/11/1918

Rhodes
No. 15122 L./Sjt. John Harold Rhodes, 3rd Battalion G. Gds. (Tunstall, Staffs.).

For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a Lewis gun section covering the consolidation of the right front company. He accounted for several enemy with his rifle as well as by Lewis gun fire, and, upon seeing three enemy leave a "pill-box," he went out single-handed through our own barrage and hostile machine-gun fire, and effected an entry into the " pill-box." He there captured nine enemy, including a forward observation officer connected by telephone with his battery. These prisoner he brought back with him, together with valuable information. 9 October 1917 near Houthulst Forest, east of Ypres, Belgium LG 26/11/1917

Pryce
Lt. (A./Capt.) Thomas Tannatt Pryce, M.C., 4th G. Gds. For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice when in command of a flank on the left of the Grenadier Guards. Having been ordered to attack a village, he personally led forward two platoons, working from house to house, killing some thirty of the enemy, seven of whom he killed himself. The next day he was occupying a position with some thirty to forty men, the remainder of his company having become casualties. As early as 8.15 a.m. his left flank was surrounded and the enemy was enfilading him. He was attacked no less than four times during the day, and each time beat off the hostile attack, killing many of the enemy. Meanwhile, the enemy brought up three field guns to within 300 yards of his line, and were firing over open sights and knocking his trench in. At 6.15 p.m. the enemy had worked to within sixty yards of his trench. He then called on his men, telling them to cheer and charge the enemy and fight to the last. Led by Captain Pryce, they left their trench and drove back the enemy, with the bayonet, some 100 yards. Half an hour later the enemy had again approached in stronger force. By this time Captain Pryce had only 17 men left, and every round of his ammunition had been fired. Determined that there should be no surrender, he once again led his men forward in a bayonet charge, and was last seen engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. With some forty men he had held back at least one enemy battalion for over ten hours. His company undoubtedly stopped the advance through the British line, and thus had great influence on the battle. 11 April 1918 at Vieux Berquin, France LG 22/5/1918
Paton
Lt. (A./Capt.) George Henry Tatham Paton, M.C., late 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When a unit on his left was driven back, thus leaving his flank in the air and his company practically surrounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to re-adjust the line, walking up and down within fifty yards of the enemy under a withering fire. He personally removed several wounded men, and was the last to leave the village. Later, he again re-adjusted the line, exposing himself regardless of all danger the whole time, and when the enemy four times counterattacked he sprang each time upon the parapet, deliberately risking his life, and being eventually mortally wounded, in order to stimulate his command. After the enemy had broken through on his left, he again mounted the parapet, and with a few men—who were inspired by his great example—forced them once more to withdraw, thereby undoubtedly saving the left flank. 1st Dec 1917 at Gonnelieu, France, LG 13/2/1918

Holmes
No. 16796 Pte. William Edgar Holmes, late- 2nd Bn., G. Gds. (Didbrook, nr. Winchmere, Glos.).

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Cattenieres on the 9th October, 1918. Pte. Holmes carried in two men under the most intense fire, and, while he was attending to a third case, he was severely wounded. In spite of this, he continued to carry wounded, and was shortly afterwards again wounded, with fatal results. By his self-sacrifice and disregard of danger he was the means of saving the lives of several of his comrades. LG 26/12/1918

Barber
No. 15518 Private1 Edward Barber, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

For most conspicuous bravery on 12th March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He ran speedily in front of the grenade company to which he belonged and threw bombs on the enemy with such effect that a very great number of them at once surrendered. When the grenade party reached Private Barber they found him quite alone and, unsupported with the enemy surrendering all about him. LG 16/8/1915

Fuller
No. 15624 Lance-Corporal Wilfred Dolby Fuller, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve Chapelle on 12th March, 1915. Seeing a party of the enemy endeavouring to escape along a communication trench, he ran towards them and killed the leading man with a bomb; the remainder (nearly 50) finding no means of evading his bombs, surrendered to him. Lance-Corporal Fuller was quite alone at the time. LG 16/8/1915

Russell
 Brevet Major Sir Charles Russell, Bart. ; 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
 5 November 1854

Offered to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sand-bag Battery, if any one would follow him; Serjeant Norman, Privates Anthony Palmer, and Bailey (who was killed) volunteered the first. The attack succeeded. LG 24/2/1857

Palmer
No. 3571 Private Anthony Palmer 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

"Present when the charge was made in defence of the Colours, and also charged singly upon the enemy, as witnessed by Sir C. Russell  is said to have saved Sir C, Russell's life" 5th Nov 1854 Battle of Inkerman LG 24/2/1857  (Private Palmer, with two other men were the first to volunteer to go with Brevet Major Sir Charles Russell to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sandbag Battery. The attack succeeded. During this action Private Palmer shot down an assailant who was in the act of bayoneting Russell, and so saved his life. He was also one of a small band which, by a desperate charge against overwhelming numbers, saved the Colours of the battalion from capture. ) see: Russell
 

Ablett
No. 5872 Serjeant Alfred Ablett 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

On the 2nd September, 1855, seeing a shell fall in the centre of a number of Ammunition cases and Powder, he instantly seized and threw it outside the trench; it burst as it touched the ground. LG 24/2/1857. VC sold in London 20/3/1903 for £62

Percy

Colonel Hon. Henry Hugh Manvers Percy 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
Date of Act of Bravery, 5th November, 1854

At a moment when the Guards were at some distance from the Sand Bag Battery, at the Battle of Inkerman, Colonel Percy charged singly into the battery, followed immediately by the Guards; the embrasures of the battery, as also the parapet, were held by the Russians, who kept up a most severe fire of musketry. At the Battle of Inkerman Colonel Percy, found himself with many men of various regiments, who had charged too far, nearly surrounded by the Russians, and without ammunition. Colonel Percy, by his knowledge of ground, though wounded, extricated these men, and, passing under a heavy fire from the Russians then in the Sand Bag Battery, brought them safe to where ammunition was to be obtained, thereby saving some fifty men, and enabling them to renew the combat. He received the approval of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, for this action, on the spot.—Colonel Percy was engaged with, and put hors de combat, a Russian soldier.  LG 5/5/1857

 

Medals of the Regiments:
The Grenadier Guards

 

© Images Copyright ©

 
 

 

 

 

 

The Grenadier Guards

1656 - date
 
 
 
Titles
pre 1877post 1877
1st (or Grenadier) Regiment of Foot GuardsGrenadier Guards
  
 
Earliest recognised formation: 1656,  for the 2nd Battalion when raised in Holland as Lord Wentworth's Regiment, bodyguard of the exiled King Charles II
1660,  for the 1st Battalion when raised in London as John Russell's Regiment of Guards, another guard regiment for the King, established at the restoration.
 
Motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense
 
Regimental Journal:  The Household Brigade Magazine 1898-1968, and The Grenadier Magazine, (later "Gazette") from 1968
 
WWI:Battle Honours; 34Victoria Crosses; 7Died; 4680
WWII:    Battle Honours;  18Victoria Crosses; 2Died; ???
 
 
 
The Regiment increased from 2 to 3 battalions in 1760, and maintained at least 3 regular battalions until 1961.
 

Peninsula War 1808 - 1814   all 3 battalions present on the Peninsula during this time, distribution of clasps between battalions unknown.

Military General Service Medal 1793 - 1814

 
 
clasp:

Corunna

Barossa

St Sebastian

Nivelle

Nive

Total MedalsMax clasps
number:348108632412596064
 

 

 

Battle Honours: Corunna Barossa Nive  Peninsula.

 
 
 

Battle of Waterloo 1815 2nd and 3rd Battalions

Waterloo Medal 1815 (names on roll, includes died , missing etc)

 
battalion:2nd3rd 
number:?? 
 
 

Casualties 16th, 17th & 18th June 1815 (extracted London Gazette 8/7/1815 & "Medals of the British Army and  how they were won" T. Carter 1861*)

2nd Battalion Officers:1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign killed; 1 Major, 2 Captains, 3 Lieutenants and 3 Ensigns wounded.

3rd Battalion Officers: 2 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign killed; 1 Major, 4 Captains, 4 Lieutenants and 3 Ensigns wounded.

*Sergeants, Trumpeters, Drummers, Farriers and Rank and File:   2nd/3rd Battalions

WoundedMissing
Died of woundsSuffered amputationDischargedTransferred to Veteran or Garrison BattalionsRejoined the RegimentRemaining in hospitals in April 1816TotalRejoined the RegimentNot since heard of, supposed dead.
61/7129/306/1444/48-/-197/36826/33302/48610/338/32
 
 

*Carter's figures are in turn extracted from the return prepared by the Adjutant-Generals office, 13th April 1816.

Battle Honour;  Waterloo.

 
 
 

Crimean War  1854 - 1856  3rd Battalion

Crimea Medal 1854 -56

 
Clasp: →..none...

Alma

Balaklava

Inkermann

Sebastopol

Total Medals 
Number:?1043676654? (majority)? >1545 
 
 

Battle Casualties;

Action.KilledDied of Wounds'Wounded'Dangerously
Wounded
Severely
Wounded
Slightly
Wounded
MissingTotal
Battle of the Alma11-119----130
First bombardment of Sebastopol, first battle of Inkermann and minor actions3-20----23
Battle of Inkermann762-35590-226
Assault on the Quarries--------
First Attack on the Redan--------
Final Attack on the Redan--------
2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Bombardments of Sebastopol and Minor Actions.15--163142-104
Magazine explosion at the French Siege Train--------

Grand Total:     

483
 

Men who served in the Crimea also eligible for:

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855

 

VCs: 4;  
 Percy   Ablett    Palmer    Russell

 

Battle Honours:  Alma; Inkermann; Sevastopol.

 
 
 

Revolt of Arabi Pasha and the 1st Sudan War 1882  2nd Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

 
clasp:....none....

Tel-el-Kebir

total medals
number:83 660743

 

 

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star  "1882"

Battle Honours:  Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882 

 
 
 

The Nile Expedition 1884-5  all three Battalions provided detachments for service with  the Guards Camel Regiment and the 3rd Battalion served at Suakin 1885

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

 

 

Clasp:
The Nile 1884 -85

Abu Klea

Suakin 1885

Battalion:1st2nd3rd1st2nd3rd3rd
Number:444545404436?
 

 

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1884-6

Battle Honour: Suakin 1885

 
 
 

Ashanti Expedition 1895-96 Detachment of the 2nd Battalion

Ashanti Star 1895-96

number:

18
 
 
 
 

Reconquest of the Sudan 1896 - 98.  1st Battalion

Queen's Sudan Medal 1896 - 98

number:?

Khedive's Sudan Medal 1896 - 1908

clasp :

Khartoum

number:?
 

Battle Honour: Khartoum

 
 

Ashanti War 1895-96   Detachment 2nd Battalion

Ashanti Star 1895-96

number:18
 
 
 
 

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War"   2nd and 3rd Battalions (April 1900 and November 1899 to the end of the war.)

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

 
clasp:

Belmont

Modder River

Paardeberg

Driefontein

Johannesburg

Diamond Hill

number:??????
       
clasp:

Wittebergen

     
number:?     
 

 

Casualties:

OfficersNCOs and Men
KIA & DOW/ DODWoundedMissing / POWKIA & DOWDeath from disease WoundedMissing / POW
2nd Battalion,  April 1900 - end of war
2/27-40811338
3rd Battalion, November 1899 - end of war
5/211-53861534
 

Battle Honour: Modder River, South Africa 1899-1902

 
 
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918  ( 6 battalions; 4 served overseas:- )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion →1 234
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )
7/10
1914
15/8
1914
27/7
1915
19/8
1915
France & Flandersxxxx
Gallipoli    
Egypt & Palestine    
Mesopotamia    
Macedonia    
Italy    
Star
possible ?
1914 or 1914-15 xx  
or 1914-15 only  xx
VCs at a glance:
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost an additional 84 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown'  or with battalions not shown here, or who we have  not yet allocated a battalion.)
12681389935943
 
RegularTerritorial ForceNew ArmiesGarrison.

 

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
1 officer and 7 other ranks of the Grenadier Guards also qualified for this medal.

 

VCs: 7 :   
 Gort    Fuller   Barber    Holmes   Paton   Pryce    Rhodes     

 

Battle Honours: Marne 1914; Aisne 1914; Ypres 1914, 1917; Loos; Somme 1916, 1918; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Arras 1918; Hazebrouck; Hindenburg Line; France and Flanders 1914-18.  Retreat from Mons; Langemarck 1914; Gheluvelt; Nonne Bosschen; Neuve Chapelle; Aubers; Festubert 1915; Ginchy; Flers-Courcelette; Morval; Pilckem; Menin Road; Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; St Quentin; Bapaume 1918; Lys; Albert 1918; Scarpe 1918; Havrincourt; Canal du Nord; Selle; Sambre.

 
 
 

WW2 1939 - 1945  

Battalion →1st2nd3rd4th5th6th
campaign ↓      
France and  Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk )
xxxx  
North Africa & Middle East  x xx
Burma      
Sicily / Italy  x xx
N.W. Europexx x  
 

Notes.

 7th Infantry Brigade for F&B 1940
Motorised Battalion of 5th Guards  Brigade (ex "Guards Armoured") 15/9/41-31/8/45 Landed NW Europe 30/6/44
7th Infantry Brigade for F&B 1940
Armoured Battalion of 5th Guards  Brigade (ex "Guards Armoured") 15/9/41-31/8/45 Landed NW Europe 30/6/44
1st Infantry Brigade (Guards)30th Infantry Brigade for F&B 1940: Captured Calais 26/5/40.
reformed
6th Guards Brigade (ex "Guards Armoured" and "Tank") NW Europe 18/7/44-end
24th Infantry Brigade (Guards) from 5/6/42-28/3/45201st Guards Motor Brigade.
7/10/42-17/11/44

 Egypt, Syria, North Africa, Libya, Italy.
(returned to the
 UK 22/4/44)

 
 
 

WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star )
 Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B =  Burma, I = Italy,  F&G = France and Germany

 F&GF&GA, I.F&GA, I.A, I
 
VCs:    

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

 

 


VCs: 2 :  Nicholls  &  Sidney

 

Battle Honours: Dunkirk 1940; Mont Pincon; Nijmegen; Rhine; Mareth; Medjez Plain; Salerno; Monte Camino; Anzio; Gothic Line.  Dyle; Cagny; Reichswald; North-West Europe 1940, 1944-5; North Africa 1942-3; Volturno Crossing; Battaglia; Italy 1943-5.

 
 
 

Jewish / Arab Unrest,  Palestine 1945 - 48 3rd and 1st  Battalions (1945 & 1948)

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:
Palestine 1945-48
number:?
 
 
 
 
 

The Malaya Emergency: Operations against Communist insurgents. 1948-60 3rd Battalion (1948)

General Service Medal 1918 - 62

clasp:

Malaya

number:?
 
 
 
 
 

Canal Zone 1951 - 1954 1st & 2nd Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Canal Zone

numbers:?

 

 
 
 

The Cyprus Emergency 1955 - 1960  2nd and 3rd Battalions (June 1958 - Nov 1958 and Nov 1956 - Aug 1959 respectively)

General Service Medal 1918-62

clasp:

Cyprus

number:?
 
 
1961: 3rd Battalion disbanded apart from a company retained for ceremonial duties in London.
 

Northern Ireland "Operation Banner"  1969-2007   1st and 2nd Battalions; numerous tours

General Service Medal 1962-2007

clasp:

Northern Ireland

number:?

 

 
1994: 2nd Battalion disbanded apart from a company retained for ceremonial duties in London.
 

Gulf War to liberate Kuwait  1990-1991  1st Battalion: dispersed as detachments

Gulf Medal 1990-91

clasp:....none....
16th Jan to 28th Feb 1991
numbers: 1426

Battle Honour:  Gulf 1991, Wadi al Batain.

 
 
 

Iraq War, or Second Gulf War 2003 and Aftermath.  1st Battalion. 20 Armoured Brigade, Operation Telic 8  (2006)

Iraq Medal 2003-

  
number:?
 

 

 
 
 

Afghanistan 2002 - date    1st Battalion; 12 Mechanised Brigade, Operation Herrick 6*    ( April - October 2007  )

Operational Service Medal : Afghanistan 2002-

  
clasp.....none....

Afghanistan

number:??
 

*several members of the regiment have received the medal for earlier operations.

 
 

© This website and its contents are copyright. Images are digitally watermarked. © North East Medals, All Rights Reserved

updated 22nd Aug 2008

 

  

 

Selected Links

The Regimental Museum. (Located in )

 
 
 

Selected Bibliography;

 

The Grenadier Guards

AuthorTitlePublisher
Lieut.-Gen. Sir. F. W. HamiltonThe Origin and History of the First or Grenadier Guards. From Documents in the State Paper Office, War Office, Horse Guards, contemporary history, regimental records, etc. 3 volsLondon: John Murray, 1874
Capt. F. MartinHistory of the Grenadier Guards, 1656-1949.    66 pp.Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd. 1951
Lieut.-Col. the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby, with an Introduction by Lieut.-Gen. The Earl of Cavan. The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918. 3 vols.London : Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1920.
By Capt. Nigel Nicolson and Patrick Forbes.The Grenadier Guards in the War of 1939-1945.   2 vols. - Vol. I. The Campaigns in North-West Europe; by Patrick Forbes. Vol. 2, The Mediterranean Campaigns; by Capt. N. Nicolson.Aldershot : Gale & Polden Ltd., 1949.
??The Grenadier Guards, 1939-1945.  79 pp.Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd. [1946]
 By Pte. J. HartIncidents of the South African Campaign, being chiefly the Personal Experiences of the Author. 151 pp. The Telegraph Press, St. John, New Brunswick, 1901.
Brig.-Gen. F. Lloyd. &  Brevet-Major Hon. A. RussellFirst or Grenadier Guards in South Africa, 1899-1902. Records of the Second Battalion; compiled by Brig.-Gen. F. Lloyd.—Records of the Third Battalion; compiled by Brevet-Major Hon. A. Russell.
114 and 138 pp.
London: J. Keliher & Co. Ltd., 1907.
 By Maj.-Gen. R. H. Whitworth. The Grenadier Guards (The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards). Famous Regiments Series.
 120 pp.
London: Leo Cooper 1974
   

General "Foot Guards" Titles:

 E. P. LowryWith the Guards Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and back.London; Horace Marshall, 1952.
Julian Paget.The Story of the Guards. 304 pp.London: Osprey, 1976
John De St JorreThe Guards. 255 pp.London: Aurum Press, 1981
By Major H. L. Aubrey-FletcherA History of the Foot Guards to 1856. 463 pp.London: Constable & Co. Ltd., 1927
??The Official Records of the Guards Brigade in South Africa. 344 pp.London: J. J. Keliher & Co. Ltd., 1904
Patrick Forbes6th Guards Tank Brigade. The Story of the Guardsmen in Churchill Tanks.  244 pp.London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. 1946
Keith Briant.Fighting with the Guards.  244 pp.London: Evans Brothers Ltd. 1960

 

Additional Bibliography for this Page.

 
Author/CompilerTitlePublisher
Officers of the Regiment.Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc.-
 Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page  
   
   
 

 

 

Site Home Page

Guide to British Medals

© This website and its contents are copyright. Images are digitally watermarked 
All Rights Reserved. North East Medals 2007 ©