Lieutenant John Grayburn VC
Lieutenant John Grayburn was born on 30 January 1918 on Manora Island, British India. His family returned to England when he was young and he was brought up in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. John was sent to Sherborne School in Dorsetshire and after graduation he worked for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) as a Foreign Staff Junior. In his spare time, he played rugby for the Chiltern Rugby Club and enjoyed boxing. He was also a member of the Army Cadet Force, serving with the 1st (London) Cadet Force, The Queen's Royal Regiment.
LIEUTENANT JOHN GRAYBURN © CWGC
After the outbreak of the Second World War, John was made an officer of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. In 1942 he married Marcelle Chambers and the couple had a son. In June 1943, bored with home service, he volunteered for the Airborne forces. He completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway in August 1943 and was described as "An average performer, but an excellent leader, tonic to men". He joined the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in North Africa in late 1943 and eventually took command of 2 Platoon, A Company, 2nd Para.
On 17 September 1944, John and his men took part in Operation Market Garden. After safely making it to the ground, he led his men into Arnhem. They reached the bridge after nightfall and, in the darkness, John led an assault across the bridge. As they advanced the Germans opened fire. Brightly coloured rounds ricocheted off the road and the bridge supports, and with no cover the attacking paras suffered terrible casualties. John was hit in the shoulder but fought on. He ordered the survivors to fall back and was the last man off the bridge.
Grayburn’s headstone in arnhem oosterbeek war CEMETERY © CWGC
Over the next two days John and his men fought for survival in a forward position near the north end of Arnhem bridge. Despite being wounded again John continued to lead, encourage and inspire his men. Finally, on 20 September, a German tank, against which the unit had no defence, forced John to pull his men back. Filthy, exhausted and with his head bandaged and arm in a sling, John stood up amongst the rubble to direct the evacuation. He was killed almost instantly. He was 26 years old.
John’s heroic actions during the battle were recounted by Major Tatham-Warter, and on 23 January 1945 John was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour that can be awarded to a member of Commonwealth forces.
John had been buried close to where he fell, but in January 1946 he was laid to rest in Plot 13. Row C. Grave 11. of CWGC Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Upon his headstone is inscribed a Victoria Cross and beneath are the words chosen by his wife: ‘”YET SHALL HE LIVE" ST. JOHN XI.25.’