| Bryant | Henry Grenville | | Lieutenant | BRYANT, HENRY GRENVILLE, Lieutenant, was born 5 June, 1872, eldest son of H S Bryant, of 2, Hesketh Crescent, Torquay. He was gazetted to the Bedfordshire Regiment 2 June 1894 and the Shropshire Light Infantry 26 September 1894, becoming Lieutenant, Shropshire Light Infantry, 3 July 1898. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902, as Brigade Signalling Officer, 13 March to 9 June, 1900; 10 July to 2 September 1900, and 16 October 1900 to 23 July 1901; on Staff (slightly wounded); took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 20 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; served during operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria: in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; also in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900, including actions at Elands River (4 to 16 August); was present during the operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including action at Rhenoster River: in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; also during the operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900, to 31 May 1902 (Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; Queen's Medal with four clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: ''Henry Grenville Bryant, Lieutenant, Shropshire Light Infantry. In recognition of services during the South African War". He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. He was promoted to Captain 22 January 1902. Captain Bryant served with his battalion in India from March 1904 to January 1905 and again from 1907 to October 1914. In the Great War he served as a Captain with the 2nd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, entering the France/Flanders theatre of war in December 1914. On 26 April 1915 he led his company in a night attack on a German trench near Ypres. He was seen by his men, at whose head he charged, to reach the parapet, and to be wounded by a hand grenade. He was reported ‘missing'. On 1 May 1915, five days after the action, he died in the Kriegs Lazarette, at Roulers, of heart failure, following the amputation of his right arm. He was buried in the Roeselare Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. A brother officer wrote of him, ‘His name will always be revered in the regiment for what is noblest and best. I never met a man so absolutely without fear'. Captain Bryant married, in 1904, Phyllis Mary, second daughter of J R W Hildyard, of Horsley Hall, County Durham, and Hutton Bonfield Hall, Northallerton. DSO VRI, QSA (4) CC Paard Drie Joh (Lt 2/Shrop LI), KSA (2) (Capt DSO Shrop LI), 14-15 Star (Capt DSO Shrops LI), BWM, VM (Capt). DNW Jun 06 £4,100.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | (King's) Shropshire Light Infantry |
