John Grant 1918 — Bancourt, France

A self-employed builder from Hawera, Sergeant John Grant received the Victoria Cross for an attack on machinegun positions in the Battle of Bapaume in France.

With the Germans in fighting retreat, New Zealand troops had entered Bapaume and pushed east through Bancourt.

They cleared German positions on Bancourt Ridge and advanced a further 6km.

On September 1, 1918,

Grant’s unit, on reaching the crest of the ridge, was faced by five enemy machinegun posts. They advanced under fire. When within 20m, Grant, supported by Lance Corporal Cecil Hill, who received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, rushed ahead “with great dash and bravery”, leapt into one of the gun positions and destroyed it. Grant knocked out a second machinegun post, his comrades taking the rest. Hawera honoured him and the area’s other VC winner, John Laurent, naming after them streets which were shaped, with another road, to resemble the letters VC.