John Duncan Grant
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John Duncan Grant VC CB DSO (28 December 1877 - 20 February 1967) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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Born at Roorkee in India and educated at Cheltenham College, he was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the 8th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army during the Armed Mission to Tibet when, on 6 July 1904 at the storming of the Gyantse Fortress, Tibet, the storming company, led by Lieutenant Grant, had to advance up a bare, almost precipitous rock-face with little cover and under heavy fire. Showers of rock and stones were being hurled down the hillside by the enemy and only one man could go up at a time, crawling on hands and knees. Lieutenant Grant and a havildar attempted to scale the final defensive curtain, but on reaching the top they were both wounded and hurled back. Regardless of their injuries, they made another attempt and, covered by the fire of men below, were at last successful. Grant had a long military career, later achieving the rank of Colonel. He received the Distinguished Service Order in addition to his Victoria Cross, and was made a Companion of the Bath. He died in Tunbridge Wells, aged 89 and was cremated in the town.
