George GristockVC was a British Army soldier and 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.
Biography
Gristock was born in Pretoria, South Africa but emigrated to the UK before WWII. He was 35 years old, and a Warrant Officer Class II holding the appointment of company sergeant major in 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, British Army during the Second World War. During the Battle of Belgiumthe 2nd Battalion was part of the British Expeditionary Force. On 21 May 1940 near the River Escaut, Belgium, south of Tournai. Company Sergeant-Major Gristock organized a party of eight riflemen and went forward to cover the company's right flank, where the enemy had broken through. He then went on with one man under heavy fire and was severely wounded in both legs, but having gained his fire position undetected, he managed to put out of action a machine-gun which was inflicting heavy casualties and kill the crew of four. He then dragged himself back to the right flank position but refused to be evacuated until contact with the battalion had been established. He later died of his wounds. The Times later reported, "By his gallant action the position of the company was secured, and many casualties prevented." Gristock is sometimes listed as a South African but the British War Graves Commission lists him as British. A second South African born recipient of the Victoria Cross emigrated from South Africa. Charles AndersonMC VC was born in Cape Town and emigrated from South Africa to Kenya, won the military cross in WWl and in the 1930s emigrated to Australia, joined the Australian Army and was awarded the Victoria Cross in WWll. Gristock is buried at Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex, England in the War Graves Section.
Victoria Cross citation
The announcement and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in supplement to the London Gazette on 23 August 1940.
The medal
Gristock's Victoria Cross is in the collection of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum in Norwich Castle, England.
