VC Citation
For his actions over those three days, Jack Grayburn was awarded
a posthumous VC ‘for supreme courage, leadership and devotion to
duty’. - one of ve VC’s awarded for Operation Market Garden. Jack’s
widow received his VC at a special investiture held at Buckingham
Palace on 19 December 1945.
His citiation reads:
“For supreme courage, leadership and devotion to duty. Lieutenant
Grayburn was a platoon commander of the Parachute Battalion
which was dropped on 17th September, 1944, with the task of
seizing and holding the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem. The North
end of the bridge was captured and, early in the night, Lieutenant
Grayburn was ordered to assault and capture the Southern end with
his platoon. He led his platoon on to the bridge and began the attack
with the utmost determination, but the platoon was met by a hail of
re from two 20 mm. quick ring guns, and from the machine guns
of an armoured car. Almost at once Lieutenant Grayburn was shot
through the shoulder. Although there was no cover on the bridge,
and in spite of his wound, Lieutenant Grayburn continued to press
forward with the greatest dash and bravery until casualties became
so heavy that he was ordered to withdraw. He directed the withdrawal
from the bridge personally and was himself the last man to come off
the embankment into comparative cover.
Later, his platoon was ordered to occupy a house which was vital to
the defence of the bridge and he personally organised the occupation
of the house. Throughout the next day and night the enemy made
ceaseless attacks on the house, using not only infantry with mortars
and machine guns but also tanks and self-propelled guns. The house
was very exposed and difcult to defend and the fact that it did not
fall to the enemy must be attributed to Lieutenant Grayburn’s great
courage and inspiring leadership. He constantly exposed himself to
the enemy’s re while moving among, and encouraging, his platoon,
and seemed completely oblivious to danger.
On 19th September, 1944, the enemy renewed his attacks, which