A Tribute to The Life of Jack Grayburn. Preface. To be President of our great rugby club is an honour and a privilege, especially so when one considers the many illustrious members in our 90 odd years of history. We live now in very different times. The first members of Chiltern RFC will have experienced, some at first hand the almost unbearably tragic events of the World War 1. As the club grew in the 1930s the shadow of war once again fell over Europe and men such as Jack Grayburn knew what could befall them should another conflict unfold. It is difficult for us now to comprehend the sacrifices that war dictates, the destruction of families, communities, a way of life. But those Chiltern rugby players in the late 1930s must have known what might be expected of them, and must have trusted that they would rise to the challenge, and must have known that some of them would not return. Our honours board at the club has 22 names on it, a club with perhaps 60 playing members in 1939. This ratio speaks for itself, a number that is shocking and humbling; and however many times this refrain is repeated it is no less true: they died so that we might have a future, a future to enjoy the manifold benefits of a good life in a free society. And surely each one of those Chiltern players who went to war and did not return would rejoice that our club continues and is in fine shape, upholding the same values, embodying all that is best in sport and comradeship. This book, compiled and written by Roger Cook, pays tribute to Jack Grayburn, whose remarkable story unfolds over the following pages. Many of our club members will mark the 70th anniversary of his death by visiting Arnhem this year, to play some rugby, have some fun and then we will all gather at Jack’s grave to pay our respects. It will be in some ways a typical rugby tour, following in a long, long tradition of such events at our club. In other ways it will be like no other tour, an emotional experience both for the oldest members and the youngest. We cannot truly comprehend the events of the bridge too far because we were not there, when Jack Grayburn stood up and confronted mortal danger, doing his job, protecting his men, at whatever risk. He was, by all accounts, an extraordinary man from an extraordinary family. Roger recounts their story and includes the moving citation for his Victoria Cross, as well as other accounts from those who knew him, and knew his family. Do read their story, and let us never forget Jack Grayburn and those other brave men from our rugby club who lost their lives at war, heroes all. Peter Osborne, President of Amersham and Chiltern RFC. 2014. Introduction. In the late 1980s I first contemplated writing the ‘History of Amersham and Chiltern RFC’ for which there was constant encouragement from the late ‘Griff’ Griffiths. Griff, for the newer members was deeply involved in the D-Day planning of World War II, a Surveyor by profession and as his name suggests a passionate Welsh rugby supporter, former Pontypridd, Chiltern player, referee and a member of the first Bucks RFU committee, a rugby man all his life. Thanks to Griff and the effort of just a handful of pre-war members Chiltern RFC was dragged out of the post war sporting depression to become the thriving club we know today. Griff later passed on innumerable notes and letters that constituted his own start to a ‘History of the Chiltern Club’ and included amongst these papers were references to notable players and members from past seasons. Many of the dog-eared, tired documents collected from the past, were those that only a true Chiltern rugby enthusiast would have bothered to save and file. Amongst the unforgettable names of former members was John (Jack) Grayburn, who had won the VC at Arnhem and like others on the long list there was limited information. Originally it took some years of research to find the very lean history of Jack’s short life in uniform, searching early World War II books and records of the Battle of Arnhem, talking to former neighbours in Chalfont St Giles, communication with the Pegasus magazine, the official Journal of the Airborne Forces and letters from business and service colleagues. Finally, pre-war team members Dick Wheeler and Jim Randall of XXX Corps came forward with old Chiltern team photos and photo proofs from the local Bucks Free Press of Jack playing for Chiltern. Much of this early information has since been reproduced on the Web. However, since the early 1970s much has been filmed, written and recorded on Arnhem with newly published books and Web related information of the Battle of Arnhem. Unfortunately, all fail to cover a fitting detailed record of Jack’s actions from 17th to 20th September 1944. The lack of detail is probably down to the fact that there were so few of A Company (normally about 112 men), inclusive of Jack’s No 2 Platoon (30-35 men) who are recorded as being first to reach the bridge and even fewer that eventually survived and were around after WWII to pass on any first hand facts. The only substantial record is that of A Company’s Major Tatham-Warter’s war diary, originally lost after he had escaped as a POW from a hospital in Arnhem. Major Tatham-Warter was also to write the commendation for Jack’s VC, the 125th awarded in World War II, 5 of them at Arnhem and the 45th awarded to the Army during the War. Of the 11,920 plus men that took part in the Battle of Arnhem, 6,250 were taken prisoner and 1,500 were casualties. The 3,900 others were evacuated from the Oosterbeek perimeter. (Note: All these numbers vary slightly depending on which report/book is researched). During the total operation the 1st Airborne Division (Urquhart’s) had 1,174 fatal casualties, 5,903 POW and evaders and 1,892 evacuees. The 1st Parachute Brigade (Lathbury) had 209 fatal casualties, 1398 POW and evaders and 136 evacuees. An estimated 700-740 men, 7% of the Airborne force, reached the Bridge. After 4 days of battle at the Bridge 90- 100 able men remained plus 210 wounded. They were all to be taken prisoner. Many personnel were missing (approximately 450). They may have later escaped to safety after hiding out for many months in Dutch homes and countryside. Some of the missing can be included in the numbers of the unknown who were incinerated in the buildings at the bridge, drowned in crossing The Rhine, died as a German POW or in hospitals or in some cases murdered, and their bodies never found. 2nd Parachute Battalion (Frost) had at take off 509 men (31 Officers). 31 Officers and 478 ORs arrived at the dropping zone. 2nd Battalion had 100 men fewer than the 1st and 3rd Battalions. 18 fit men including 3 officers survived at the bridge area on Day 4 and then made an attempt to reach the Oosterbeek evacuation area. 13 of these men were taken prisoner and can be added to a total of 90 other prisoners. 62 casualties are recorded in Oosterbeek Cemetery with known graves, of which 16 are unnamed (Roll of Honour 2011). 16 or 17 other ranks are known to have evacuated across the Rhine. Of A Company (Tatham-Warter, approx 100 men) that reached the Arnhem Bridge, 30 men were injured on Day 1. Finally, 16 men of A Company were killed in action and 13 men were taken prisoner, Nearly half of A Company are unaccounted for. Jack’s No 2 Platoon was estimated to have six survivors all wounded. I have attempted to piece together from many sources an update of Jack’s short but eventful life, concentrating on Jack’s final events at Arnhem and also take this opportunity to correct a few pieces of misinformation that I recorded in Jack’s original history recorded in the ‘History of Amersham and Chiltern RFC’ (1992). Roger Cook. 2013 Amersham and Chiltern RFC commemeration of Jack Grayburn and tour to Arnhem RFC 2014. Rugby tours by Amersham and Chiltern Rugby club (known as Chiltern Wanderers on tour) were first undertaken in the 1951-52 season and for many seasons toured to the South and West of England. In the 1968-69 season the club went International and played against The Hague RC, The Dutch National Students and Wrecht RC, followed in 1971-72 by Antwerp RC and British Brussels RC. Savigny, Paris in 1972-73 and Utrecht in 1990. Since these early excursions the club teams from mini, junior, Wanderers and Chiltern Hundreds have toured to all corners of the world where rugby is played. PROGRAMME OF EVENTS Presidents Lunch Saturday 22nd March 2014. The Presidents Lunch is traditionally held when the 1st XV play one of their last home league games. This season the match is against Old Redcliffians and doubles as a start to the Club’s 70th year commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and in particular the events related to our past Chiltern player John (Jack) Grayburn VC. On this day a very special tribute will be paid by his former Parachute Brigade who will ‘drop’ in with Jack’s VC medal together with attendance by Jack’s son and relatives. Friday 4th April 2014 1900 Hrs 2014 Fund raising supper at the clubhouse for Help the Heroes Charity.