Julian Royds Gribble | |
Birth Date: | 5 January 1897 |
Birth Place: | London, England |
Death Place: | Kassel, German Empire |
Placeofburial: | Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel |
Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
Serviceyears: | 1915−1918 |
Rank: | Captain |
Unit: | Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
Battles: | World War I |
Awards: | Victoria Cross |
Captain Julian Royds Gribble VC (5 January 1897 − 25 November 1918) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born to George James Gribble and Norah Gribble (née Royds) of 34 Eaton Square in London.[1] His siblings included Vivien Gribble, a wood engraver, who spent World War I in the Women's Land Army.
He was 21 years old, and a temporary captain in the 10th (S) Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment,[2] British Army during the First World War when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross on 23 March 1918 at Beaumetz, Hermies Ridge, France.
He was taken prisoner and died of pneumonia at the Niederzwehren prisoner of war camp in Germany, aged 21. Although he died 14 days after the end of the war, systems were not yet in place to repatriate those held prisoner.
He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Long Bredy in Dorset, close to Kingston Russell House, which had been purchased by his father in 1913. His sister Vivien designed a memorial window for him[3] at Preston, Hertfordshire.[4]
His VC was destroyed in a house fire and no replacement has been issued.