Service number:

121454

Nationality:

British

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 214th Infantry Brigade, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

March 22nd, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 214th Infantry Brigade, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

March 29th, 1945

"This Officer has been present with the Battalion as a Company Commander since its arrival in France on 23rd June 1944. He has taken part in all operations of the Battalion from 1st August to 18th October with the exception of the crossing of the River NOIREAU on 14th Aug due to illness.

On 9th August his Company was engaged in an operation of clearing the area South of the Road LA VARINIERE - LE PLESSIS GRIMOULT. The area was strongly held and in the course of the advance, the Company suffered heavy casualties finally arriving on the objective with 30 men. It was due to Major GRUBB's leadership and resourcefulness that the objective was reached and re-organisation effected in the face of heavy mortar and artillery fire. The Company continued to hold the position until a reserve Company moved forward to relieve it.

Again on 27th August in woods NORTH of VERNONET in the course of heavy close quarter fighting Major GRUBB's Company, the reserve Company of the Battalion moved out to counter enemy infiltration on the right flank. By taking charge of all the Bren guns of the Company under his own hand, directing their fire and personally engaging the enemy with grenades, considerable casualties were inflicted and the situation which was at the time serious, was successfully restored.

On all occasions Major GRUBB's energy, initiative and powers of leadership have been quite outstanding and an inspiration to all ranks of the Company under his command."

29 June 1944 WO 171/1396 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Battalion attack commenced, B Company right, C Company left, A Company moppers-up. D Company reserve. 2 Med. Regt. Divisional R.A. and M.M.G. Company in support. Objective was taken and position consolidated. Aprrox. 50 enemy killed – 7 tanks knocked out – and numerous snipers were dealt with. A large amount of enemy equipment was found. Unit identified as 12 SS Division. A strong enemy counter attack was put in during the night in area GRANVILLE consisting of tanks and infantry but position was held and severe casualties caused by artillery. Patrols were sent out. Swastika flag captured. Battalion HQ established at 935657. Company commanders, HQ Company Captain Ratcliff, Support Company Captain Watkins, A Company Major P. F. Roose, B Company Major Grubb, C Company Major A. J. Gutch, D Company Major P. T. Weston. 172 Field Battery (late 12th Battalion – commanded Major Alexander in direct support. The Brigadier congratulated the Battalion on a very fine show.

31 July 1944 WO 171/1396 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Officers as at 31 July 1944 Commanding officer Lt. Col. A. R. Harrison. 2i/c T/Maj Martyn. Adjt. Capt. L. S. Durrant. O.C. A Coy. A/Maj Marshall O.C. B Coy. T/Maj A. A. Grubb. O.C. C Coy. A/Maj Matthews. O.C. D Coy. A/Maj M. M. Souper. O.C. Sp. Coy. T/Capt Watkins. O.C. HQ Coy. T/Capt. A. M. Ford. Casualties July Killed – 1 Officer and 31 O.Rs. Wounded – 6 Officers and 133 O.Rs. Missing – 2 Officers and 11 O.Rs.

31 August 1944 WO 171/1396 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Comd. Officer. Lieut.-Col. R. E. Osborne-Smith 2 i/c ......... Adjt. Capt. Leadbeater. "A" Coy Comd. Maj. Gibbins. "B" Coy Comd. Maj. A. A. Grubb. "C" Coy Comd. Maj. Clover. "D" Coy Comd. Maj. M. M. Souper. "S" Coy Comd. Capt. Hodge. "HQ" Coy Comd. Capt. A. M. Ford.

22 April 1945 WO 171/5292 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
C.O. Lt.-Col. M. R. J. Hope-Thomson M.C. admitted to hospital. Lt.-Col. A. A. Grubb M.C. assumed command of Bn. Bn left BONRECHTERN area at 13.30 hrs and arrived in new area SCHWARME (8781) at 17.15 hrs. Bn H.Q at 877800.

27 April 1945 WO 171/5292 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Moved off 03.15 hrs and settled in new location by 06.00 hrs - Area buildings North of BURGER PARK. Bn was given the task of clearing some 6,000 sq. yrds of BREMEN with the rly line as the boundary between us and 52 (L) Div. Final "O" Group 10.20 hrs and with "A" Coy leading Bn moved at 11.45 hrs and established themselves in the triangle of railway lines and "C" Coy passed through. The opposition was light consisting of snipers and hastily constructed rd blocks. By 17.00 hrs Bn was firmly established in Northern BREMEN as far NORTH as the railway loop. Lt.-Col. A. A. Grubb M.C. was injured (and evacuated) from fragments of a petard which was destroying a road block. Maj J. D. Ricketts D.S.O. assumed command of Bn with Major J. Clover as 2 i/c. Very slight shelling NORTH of town and some trouble with displaced persons - otherwise BREMEN was quiet. Total P.W. for day - 47.

• - Recommendation for Award for Grubb, Alfred Algernon Rank: Temporary Major ... | The National Archives
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1559/data.pdf
  - 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1944-45 - Awards and Citations - Major A. A. Grubb