6921-GEORGE GROGAN VC

GEORGE GROGAN

1875 - 1962

EARLY CAREER

George Grogan was born at Devonport on the 1^st September 1875. The circumstances surrounding the confinement of his mother are described in the diaries of George King-Hall and do not show his paternal grandmother in a very good light.[PAGE6]. In 1881 he lost his mother, who died of typhoid. Eighteen months later his father married Ida Forman, a first cousin of his first wife, Meta.

In 1896 George was commissioned in the West Indian Regiment and his first year in the Army was spent in Jamaica. In 1898-99 his regiment saw service in West Africa.

From 1902 to 1907 he was seconded to the Egyptian Army. During this period he qualified as an Arabic interpreter.

In 1907 he transferred to the Yorkshire Light Infantry and a year later transferred, as a Captain, to the Worcester Regiment, with whom he served in Egypt during 1913-14.

FIRST WORLD WAR

1914-1915

On 30th December 1914 he assumed command of the 2nd Worcestershire, but within a week he had been severely wounded. On the 22nd March 1915 he assumed command of the 1st Worcestershire whose Commanding officer had been killed during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.

His next major test was the Battle of Aubers Ridge which took place on the9^th and 10^th May. This little known battle has been described as one of the most disastrous days in the history of the British Army and its conduct illustrated clearly the incompetence of the higher command in the early stages of the war. Unlike the generals George Grogan showed great perspicacity and moral courage. When ordered to mount an attack on the enemy positions, he decided the task was impossible, and took it upon himself to countermand the order; an action which was later approved by higher authority.

1916 – 1917

For the next two years George Grogan commanded the 1^st Worcestershire. In the summer of 1916 his battalion took part in the Battle of the Somme and in March 1917 his regiment led the attack at Bouchavesnes in the Somme valley. In this battle the regimental history describes his actions as follows. “The Colonel was everywhere controlling the dispositions and the entrenchment, inspiring all by his cheerfulness and courage.” He was awarded the D.S.O. for his gallant leadership.

In June 1917 he had been given command of the 23^rd Brigade and took part in the 3^rd Battle of Ypres or the Battle of Passchendaele. This terrible battle, which lasted for four months, saw some of the worst scenes of slaughter of the whole war.

1918

German Spring Offensive

In the new year 23^rd Brigade which was part of the 8^th Division in the 5th Army was stationed at the southern end of the British front where it had recently taken over part of the French line. On the 21st March the Germans, desperate to win the war in 1918 before the full power of the United States could be deployed, launched what was perhaps the most powerful offensive of the war. Three-quarters of a million German troops attacked 300 000 British troops. The ferocity of this attack can be judged by the fact that British casualties for the month of March 1918 were the second highest of the war, exceeded only in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.

In the next fortnight the Germans had advanced nearly forty miles but were finally stopped short of Amiens and the vital North/South railway line that had been their objective. In the evening of 30^th March units from the 23^rd Brigade retook Moreuil Wood the scene that morning of the famous cavalry charge by Strathcona’s Horse of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.

During April it was decided that the 8^th Division and three other British Divisions, all of which had been terribly shattered by the German spring offensives, should form IX^th Corps and be placed under command 4^th French Army and take over a quiet part of the line between Rheims and the Chemin Des Dames, where they could recuperate and absorb their reinforcements.

Battle of the Aisne

On the 5^th May the 8^th Division had arrived by train at Fere-en Tardenois from where it deployed to its new areas of responsibility. In the case of the 23^rd Brigade this was a short stretch of the line N of the bridge that crossed the Aisne at Pontevert. By the 13^th they had completed their relief of the French infantry regiment which they were replacing and were able to enjoy their peaceful surroundings.

This happy state of affairs lasted for about a week, then some signs were noticed that made people feel uneasy. In some ways the enemy were too quiet, yet in other ways there was unusual activity. Perhaps this was not going to be the rest cure that they had been promised.

On the 26^th a German patrol was captured. Under special questioning the prisoners confessed that an attack was due to start at midnight 26^th/27^th. The Brigade Major received this news at 3.45 pm, 8 hours before H-Hour.

As far as the 23^rd Brigade was concerned the ensuing battle lasted for three days. During this time the 8^th Division was driven back 15 miles over the rivers Aisne and Vesle to the Bouleuse Ridge where they were relieved by the 19^th Division. During the retreat whole units had ceased to exist and it is likely that less than a thousand of the Divisions total strength had succeeded in crossing the Aisne. Two brigade commanders had been incapacitated by gas and at least four battalion commanders had been killed. By the end of the first day the story of the 8^th Division was in fact that of the 23^rd Brigade and troops from other units that had attached themselves to it.

For his great courage in this battle George Grogan was awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation for this award is given below.

For the most conspicuous bravery and leadership throughout three days of intense fighting. Brigadier-General Grogan was, except for a few hours, in command of the remnants of the infantry of a division and various attached troops. His action during the whole of the battle can only be described as magnificent. The utter disregard for his personal safety, combined with the sound practical ability which he displayed, materially helped to stay the onward thrust of the enemy masses. Throughout the third day of operations, a most critical day, he spent his time under artillery, trench mortar, rifle and machine gun fire, riding up and down the front line, encouraging his troops, reorganizing those who had fallen into disorder, leading back into the line those who were beginning to retire and setting such a wonderful example, that he inspired with his enthusiasm not only his own men, but also allied troops who were alongside. As a result the line held, and repeated enemy attacks were repulsed. He had one horse shot under him but nevertheless continued on foot to encourage his men until another horse was brought. He displayed throughout the highest valour, powers of command and leadership.

We have been fortunate that an exceptionally well written account of the part played by the 23rd Brigade in the Battle of the Aisne exists.

It was written by Captain Sydney Rogerson, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, who was a member of Brigadier George Grogan’s staff.

Initially a copy of this account was found in the records of the 8th Division held by the National Archives. Subsequentally another copy was found in the papers of Brigadier Grogan.

The editor of this website would like to thank the family of Sydney Rogerson for their permission to include a slightly shortened version of this account in this website.

The account described above was written in the 1920s. In 1937 an expanded version of this account was published as a book under the title "The Last of the Ebb". A new edition of this book was printed [ISBN 978-1-85367-738-0] by Greenhill Books and is now obtainable from Pen and Sword Books.

This book is strongly recommended to anyone who is interested in the history of the First World War.