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Capt. Julian Royds Gribble VC.
British Army 1st Bn. att. 10th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Dorset, England
(d.25th Nov 1918)
Captain Julian Royds Gribble VC served with the 1st Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment and was attached to the 10th Battalion when he died from Pneumonia on the 25th November 1918, Age: 21. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany. He was the son of George James Gribble and Norah Gribble (nee Royds), of Kingston Russell House, Dorset.
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 30770, dated 25th June, 1918, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Capt. Gribble was in command of the right company of the battalion when the enemy attacked, and his orders were to ' hold on to the last.' His company was eventually entirely isolated, though he could easily have withdrawn them at one period when the rest of the battalion on his left were driven back to a secondary position. His right flank was ' in the air,' owing to the withdrawal of all troops of a neighbouring division. By means of a runner to the company on his left rear he intimated his determination to hold on until other orders were received from battalion headquarters - and this he inspired his command to accomplish. His company was eventually surrounded by the enemy at close range, and he was seen fighting to the last. His subsequent fate is unknown. By his splendid example of grit, Capt. Gribble was materially instrumental in preventing for some hours the enemy obtaining a complete mastery of the crest of ridge, and by his magnificent self-sacrifice he enabled the remainder of his own brigade to be withdrawn, as well as another garrison and three batteries of field artillery. He was wounded and lost consciousness, but was resuscitated by the Germans and taken prisoner. He was held in a camp at Mainz, Germany where he gradually recovered his health. On the news of winning the Victoria Cross his fellow prisoners of war celebrated by carrying him around the camp on their shoulders. Sadly he never saw his medal. Whilst waiting to be repatriated at the end of the War he caught pneumonia and died on the 24th November 1918.
