Brigadier-General George William St. George Grogan VC CB CMG DSO

Appointed Colonel of the Regiment on 2nd November 1938.

In November, 1938, an old and distinguished officer of the Regiment was appointed as Colonel. General Grogan was born on 1st September 1875, and first saw service with the West India Regiment in 1896. It was not until January 1908, that he joined the Worcestershire Regiment as a Captain. General Grogan’s earlier service was of that varied nature which must appeal to all those who search for the old element of adventure in soldiering. In 1898 he was in operations in Sierra Leone and at Lagos in the following year.

For five years from 1902 he served with the Egyptian Army.Lieut.-Colonel Grogan’s command of the 1st Battalion in France in World War 1 is described in detail by Captain FitzM. Stacke in his History of the Regiment. His leadership culminated in the action, which was to win the Victoria Cross on the Bouleuse Ridge on 29th May 1918. On that occasion only reckless bravery could save the day, and Colonel Grogan accepted the challenge.

It is perhaps appropriate to quote the citation: “Shells, bombs and bullets struck all round him and presently his horse was shot; but he mounted another horse and continued to ride along the firing line, cheering and encouraging his men, miraculously escaping death at every instant and inspiring all who saw him, both French and British.” A picture by Gilbert Holiday recording the event is in possession of the Regiment at Norton Barracks. Subsequently he commanded the 23rd Brigade.

After the war from May until October 1919, he commanded 238 Infantry Brigade in the Force operating in North Russia, later pro­ceeding to India to command the 3rd Battalion.

Brig. Gen. G. W. St. G. Grogan

Brig. Gen. George W. St. G. Grogan

It was his sad responsibility to disband the Battalion and lead a small cadre back to Gravesend, where they dispersed. Later he commanded the 5th Brigade at Aldershot. Brigadier-General Grogan retired in 1926 and in 1933 became a member of the distinguished Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. He was A.D.C. to the King from 1920 to 1926.

When in 1938 he succeeded the late Sir Claud Jacob as Colonel of the Regiment he was destined to serve his tenure throughout the strenuous war years of a Second World War. With memories of the value of the personal touch in war, he threw himself into the task of encouraging all units of the Regiment whether their duty lay at home or abroad. It would be invidious to single out any particular occasion from the many on which he was prominent in his devotion and interest for the Regiment and its welfare.

On reaching the age limit he retired on 28th August 1945, when Brigadier Clarke assumed the Colonelcy. But he continued to take an active interest in all matters concerning the life of the Regiment, whether administrative or social; and he was last seen participating in the great ceremonial parade on 15th April 1950, at Worcester.

Brigadier-General Grogan died on the 3rd January 1962, Sunningdale, Berkshire and his grave is at the Woking Crematorium, Surrey.

 

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