Victor Carlton Griffin

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 14/06/2016 - 13:07

First Name:

Victor

Middle Name:

Carlton

Last Name:

Griffin

Date of Birth:

Saturday, April 16, 1898

Mother's Name:

Ann Griffin nee Penney

Father's Name:

Frank Griffin

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, June 16, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

3rd Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, August 12, 1973

Place of Death:

Bilgola, N.S.W.

Details:

Victor Griffin (Service No 2600) was born in Sydney.

At enlistment Victor stated that he was 18 years of age, but in fact was only 17. He was single, lived at Stanwell Park, N.S.W. and worked as a junior porter. Victor had served 6 years in the Cadets.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A54 Runic with 8th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion, on 9th August 1915. The troops arrived on Gallipoli on 19th September 1915 and Victor saw service there until he was evacuated on 27th October 1915 after becoming ill. He was able to rejoin his unit in Egypt on 11th March 1916.

On 28th March 1916 Victor arrived in France and saw service on the Western Front.

On 1st December 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 11th September 1918 Victor was discharged from the AIF in London due to being selected for the Cadet College at Quetta, India. He graduated and took a posting as a Lieutenant with 2/10th Gurkha Rifles and saw service in the 3rd Afghan War from 1919 until 1922.

On 7th August 1925 he married Myra Rieu in India and they raised 3 children.

Victor then joined the 5th Mahratta Regiment and served with them, eventually being promoted to Brigadier and taking command of the regiment in 1946.

During the Second World War Victor served in the Middle East and Italy.

Victor and his family returned to Australia in December 1962 after a long and distinguished Army career.

He died in 1973 in Sydney.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GRIFFIN V C