Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Charles Robert Grant, known as Charlie, was born on 11 April 1884 at Oamaru, the youngest son of David and Susan (née Boland) Grant. He and his siblings were educated at Oamaru North School. David Grant lost an arm after a shark attack in early 1888. Mrs Grant died in 1907. Charles Grant was a farmer residing at Morven, where he had been for a few years, when he enlisted on the outbreak of war. Trooper C. R. Grant departed with the Mounted Men by the slow train from Timaru on 17 August 1914, amidst much excitement in the town, whilst their horses were trucked at the Smithfield siding, Waimataitai. The Mayor spoke of the pride in them and said that they were going forward with stout hearts and strong arms. "Be true lads to your King and Empire, to yourselves and your country, and put your trust in God," he said.

Sergeant Charles Robert Grant served overseas for four years and 242 days. In 1928 he married Elsie May Baker. They are buried in Otahuhu Cemetery, Charles in 1957 and Elsie in 1965. All four sons of David and Susan Grant gave military service – John and Thomas in the South African War, David in the South African War and World War One, and Charles in World War One. John wrote an interesting, detailed letter, dated 13 October 1901, from the Front. John died as the result of a work accident in 1914. Thomas had gone to sea and made his way to South Africa, where he was employed in his trade as a saddler when the war broke out. He joined the Durban Light Infantry and later the the South African Light Horse. Returning to New Zealand some time after, he worked on farms in North Otago and South Canterbury. He volunteered for the Expeditionary Force, but still suffering the effects of the fever contracted in South Africa, he did not have the stamina and died in 1919. David, the second son, served with the Eighth Contingent in the South African War, and was residing at Taihape when he enlisted for World War I. David, who returned in May 1918, died in 1945.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [27 October 2020]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [27 October 2020]; School Admission record (Oamaru Branch NZSG) [28 October 2020]; Otahuhu Cemetery, Auckland, burial record (Auckland Council) [27 October 2020]; Oamaru Mail, 17 February 1888, 13 January 1902, 26 February 1914, 9 May 1918, 8 August 1919, Timaru Herald, 18 August 1914 (Papers Past) [06 May 2014; 28 October 2020]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.