CSM. John Grasby
British Army 4th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment
from:Yorkshire
My Father Jack Grasby's Citation reads,
CITATION LS/4798694 C/Sgt GRASBY J E YORKS C/Sgt Grasby first enlisted in the Territorial Army in 1927 and served until 1935, rejoining in 1939 and being mobilized on the outbreak of war with the 4th Btn. East Yorks Regiment. He went to France with his regiment and was evacuated at Dunkirk. In 1941 he went with his Regiment to Africa and joined the 8th Army and was taken prisoner in 1942 at the battle of Knightsbridge. He went to a POW camp in Italy and in July 1943 succeeded in escaping and being unable to get back to the UK, he joined up with the Partisans in Italy and stayed with them until 1945 when he reported to a S African unit in Turin.
He returned to the UK in 1945 and served there until going to Malaya in 1948 as C.Q.M.S. with the Green Howards. In 1952 he returned from Malaya and served in Austria and Germany and in 1956 he got back to his own regiment and came to serve on ERE appointment in Germany. On 31 August 1957 Her Majesty the Queen saw fit to honour him with the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
He was born in 1911. He first enlisted in the Territorial Army in 1927 and served until 1935. He re-joined in the Regulars in 1939 and then being mobilized on the outbreak of war with the 4th Bn., East Yorkshire Regiment.
On re-joining in the Regulars it was established on his recruitment to the Regulars that he had excelled at school and became a school teacher in-between serving at the end of Territorials and re-joining the Regulars so he was offered a commission but he declined. My father was a bit of a man's man and liked to be one of the lads
He went to France with his regiment and was evacuated at Dunkirk. In 1941 he then sent with his Regt to Africa and joined the 8th Army and was taken prisoner in 1942 at the Battle of Knightsbridge. He was taken to POW Camp P.G. 53 Sforzacosta Italy
He succeeded in escaping in July 1943 and being unable to get back to the UK; he joined up with the partisans in Italy and stayed with them until 1945. He learnt to speak fluent Italian and he already spoke fluent German.
When, at last in 1945, he managed to report to a S African unit in Turin he then returned to the UK in 1945 and served there until going to Malaya (Now Malaysia) in 1950 as C.Q.M.S. and later as R.Q.M.S. with the Green Howards.
