Julian Royds Gribble

Captain Julian Royds Gribble VC

Julian Royds Gribble was born at 24 Lennox Gardens, London, on 5 January 1897, the youngest son of George James Gribble and Norah Gribble, née Royds. He was educated at Eton College and entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War.

Commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1915, Gribble initially trained soldiers at Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight. Because he did not enter an operational theatre during 1914 or 1915, he did not qualify for either of the First World War campaign stars. He went to France in April 1916 and served during the Battle of the Somme. After suffering from trench fever that autumn, he recovered in Britain and returned to active service. Victoria Cross Online⁠

Gribble belonged to the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but was attached to the 10th (Service) Battalion, part of the 57th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. By March 1918 he held the temporary rank of captain and commanded D Company. Commonwealth War Graves Commission⁠

On 21 March 1918, the German Army opened Operation Michael, the first great assault of its Spring Offensive. Following an enormous bombardment, German forces broke deeply into the positions of the British Third and Fifth Armies. The 10th Royal Warwickshires were ordered to occupy Hermies Ridge near Beaumetz and delay the German advance.

On 23 March, Gribble commanded the battalion’s right-hand company. As adjoining troops withdrew, D Company became increasingly exposed and eventually isolated. Although Gribble had an opportunity to retire, his orders were to hold the position. He sent word that his company would remain until it received new instructions and continued directing the defence as German troops surrounded it.

Gribble was last seen fighting at close range as the position was overwhelmed. His stand delayed German occupation of the ridge and helped the remainder of his brigade, another garrison and three field-artillery batteries withdraw. He was wounded and captured rather than killed, although his fate was initially unknown.

For his actions, Gribble received the Victoria Cross. The official citation praised his “splendid example of grit” and concluded that his self-sacrifice had enabled other British forces to escape encirclement. The award was announced in The London Gazette, issue 30770, in June 1918. The Gazette⁠ The CWGC record reproduces the complete official citation⁠.

While recovering in German captivity, Gribble learned that he had received the VC. Fellow prisoners reportedly carried the embarrassed young captain around the prison square in celebration. He remained a prisoner after the Armistice and became seriously ill during the influenza pandemic. He died from pneumonia on 25 November 1918, aged 21.

Gribble was ultimately buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany, in plot III, row F, grave 4. His CWGC record identifies him as the son of George James and Norah Gribble of Kingston Russell House, Dorset. Commonwealth War Graves Commission⁠

His Victoria Cross was presented to his parents at Kingston Russell House on 15 September 1919. The original medal remained with the family until it was destroyed in a fire at Wamil Hall, Suffolk, in February 1958. A replica is preserved at the Royal Warwickshire Regimental Museum in Warwick.

Gribble is commemorated at Eton College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, St Martin’s Church at Preston in Hertfordshire and by a Victoria Cross commemorative stone at Sloane Square in London. His service medal entitlement consisted of the Victoria Cross, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Citation summary for the hero page

On 23 March 1918 at Hermies Ridge, Gribble kept his isolated company in position under orders to hold to the last. Surrounded at close range, he continued fighting and delayed the German seizure of the ridge, enabling other infantry and artillery units to withdraw.