Gunner George Grant

Gunner George Grant, Royal Marine Artillery. He was killed in action, aboard H.M.S. “Defence” aged 17, on the 31st May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of the late Lewis and Isabella Grant formerly of Hall Street, Galashiels. He had been a farm labourer when he enlisted in July 1915. The “Defence ” was a “Minotaur” Class Armoured Cruiser of 14,600 tons with a crew of 779. She was struck by 2 salvoes from 4 German dreadnoughts whilst escorting the Grand Fleet steaming to engage the German High Seas Fleet,. Theses salvoes caused both her magazines to explode destroying the Ship. There were no survivors. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. ( The R.M.A. usually manned warship gun turrets ). His brother Thomas also fell during the War – see above).