Julian Royds Gribble

He held an isolated ridge so his comrades could escape alive

Julian Royds Gribble VC was born in London on 5 January 1897. Educated at Eton, he entered Sandhurst after the outbreak of the First World War and received a commission in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1915. He initially trained recruits on the Isle of Wight before going to France in 1916. He fought during the Somme campaign and returned to Britain after contracting trench fever.

By March 1918, Gribble was a temporary captain commanding a company of the 10th Battalion. The German Spring Offensive brought overwhelming pressure against British positions. On 23 March, at Hermies Ridge near Beaumetz, his company held the battalion's exposed right flank.

Gribble's orders required him to hold his ground. When neighbouring troops withdrew, he could have pulled back, but instead sent a runner to explain that he would remain until fresh orders arrived. His company became surrounded, and he continued fighting at close quarters. The resistance delayed German control of the ridge and helped other infantry and three artillery batteries withdraw.

Wounded and captured, Gribble survived the fighting and became a prisoner in Germany. His Victoria Cross was announced on 28 June 1918. Fellow prisoners celebrated the news by carrying him around their camp on their shoulders.

He never returned home. Ill with pneumonia, he died on 25 November 1918, aged 21, after the Armistice. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery near Kassel. His decorations comprised the Victoria Cross, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Official Victoria Cross citation

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 His company was eventually entirely isolated though he could easily have withdrawn them at one period when the rest of the battalion on his left were driven back to a secondary position.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.

Sixth Supplement to The London Gazette of 25 June 1918. 28 June 1918, Numb. 30770, p. 7617