Captain Robert Cuthbert Grieve

Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant
Birth Date 19/06/1889
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Brighton
Death Date 04/10/1957
Death Place Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Final Rank Captain
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 37th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 37th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Robert Grieve (1889-1957) won the Victoria Cross in his battalion's first big action. Firepower, clever planning, and bold action made the attack a notable success. During the action Grieve's company suffered heavy casualties and was held up. Despite intense fire from two machine-guns, Grieve made a single-handed attack on both, killing their crews. He then led his men on to the objective, fighting until he was wounded.

Returning to Australia, he married the army nurse who had cared for him. Grieve later resumed a business career, but served in the Volunteer Defence Corps during the Second World War.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 19/06/1889
Date of enlistment 16/06/1915
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 1915 37th Battalion.
Date of embarkation 03/06/1916
Date promoted 01/05/1916 Appointed to lieutenant.
Date commissioned 17/01/1916 Appointed to Second Lieutenant.
Date of recommendation honour or award 16/06/1917
Date of honour or award 07/06/1917 Awarded the Victoria Cross.
Date promoted 09/04/1917 Promoted to captain and given command of A Company.
Date wounded 07/06/1917
Date returned to Australia 08/04/1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 1918
Date of discharge 28/06/1918
Date returned to Australia 08/04/1918
Date of death 04/10/1957