GRIMSEY, John Henry
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Rank:
Regimental Sergeant Major
Unit / Base:
45RM Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Marines
Service:
Royal Navy
Number:
CH/X 53
Born:
Sunday, December 25, 1910
Birthplace:
Chatham, Kent
Died :
Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age:
33
Cemetery/Memorial:
Operations:
Sergeant Major John Grimsey was killed in action at Normandy. Son of John and Alice Elizabeth Grimsey; husband of Georgina Mary Grimsey, of Gillingham, Kent.
His death occurred during the operation to take the enemy held coastal resort of Franceville Plage, Normandy, which had been given the local codename of Piccadilly. At the Northern end of Piccadilly the enemy had a strong point which included pillboxes. An attempt by the Piat team of 'E' troop to destroy this resulted in the death of Lance Corporal Davis. The C.O. and his party moved forward to assess the situation and came under fire from an enemy anti tank gun. Sergeant Major Grimsey and Corporal Watson (Pay Corporal) were both killed.
His death occurred during the operation to take the enemy held coastal resort of Franceville Plage, Normandy, which had been given the local codename of Piccadilly. At the Northern end of Piccadilly the enemy had a strong point which included pillboxes. An attempt by the Piat team of 'E' troop to destroy this resulted in the death of Lance Corporal Davis. The C.O. and his party moved forward to assess the situation and came under fire from an enemy anti tank gun. Sergeant Major Grimsey and Corporal Watson (Pay Corporal) were both killed.
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/131.
[3] The Story of 45RM Commando, published 1946 for veterans.
Notes on rank.
Sources [1] and [2] record rank as Sergeant Major; source [3] written by an officer of 45RM Cdo records rank as RSM.
Primary Roll of Honour:
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