Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sapper

Unit:

9th Canadian Field Squadron (engineers), 4th Canadian Armoured Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
Previous to the construction of the bridge over the Kusten Canal, MR W137992, on the night of 18 April 1945, a great deal of approach work was required on the near bank. The bridge site was extremely exposed and was under intense enemy fire from medium artillery, self-propelled 88mm guns, mortars and snipers. Sapper Grieve was a bulldozer driver and had been given the task of completing the approach work with his machine. He commenced work during daylight and coolly carried on despite the fact that extremely heavy enemy fire was falling on the [ … ] and all around it. He was completely oblivious to all this fire even though, on several occasions shrapnel bounced off his bulldozer. The approach work was completed before darkness thus enabling the Squadron to start the advance work on the roller layout in daylight. The bridge was actually completed many hours earlier than would have been possible if the roller layout had had to be done in darkness. Sapper Grieve, by his outstanding courage, complete devotion to duty and utter disregard for his personal safety while completing his work, contributed largely to the final completion of the bridge resulting in bringing much-needed relief to an extremely hard-pressed bridgehead.