Charles Allan Grant, a paint miller, aged 19, was ordered to be detained in a Borstal institution for two years for forgery. The offence, said his Honour, was committed within a month of the prisoner's being released on probation on another charge. He did not apparently appreciate the leniency of being granted probation. -Evening Post, 28/7/1939.
It is possible that the Charles Allan Grant mentioned above is not the one mentioned in a gravestone in Dunedin. I think it very probable, as the reported age agrees with his date of birth, and his entry in the "Online Cenotaph" notes his profession as "Painter."
It is also possible that Charles volunteered for the Army as an alternative to completing his sentence.
The only consolation, when the field guns went into action on 5 February south-east of Monet Trocchio, with 41 Battery guarding the gun areas, was that there were many partners in sin. The neighbourhood bristled with guns and the 25-pounders seemed puny alongside the 8-inch and 155-millimetre American howitzers already in position. It was a clear day after rain which made the mountains seem dangerously close, and all but 29 Battery and A Troop of 41 Battery were in position before dark. The guns were south of the main road to Cassino, Route 6, between M. Trocchio and the smaller M. Porchia, with the 4th Field astride the Rome-Naples railway. The 26 Battery gun crews struggled with drag ropes for four hours to get their guns into the muddy position and they were extremely lucky that the enemy did not shell the regimental area. The 5th Field area was crowded with vehicles as the guns deployed and two 105-millimetre gun-howitzers shelled it all afternoon, wounding a sergeant of RHQ and a gunner of 47 Battery. The 6th Field attracted even more attention, a reconnaissance party suffering one killed — Gunner Grant — and four wounded. In the evening all access roads were shelled quite heavily and 29 Battery was lucky to get through unharmed. -2nd NZ Divisional Artillery, Official History.
Charles Grant is buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.
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