b. 1824 Ireland. d. 10/01/1868 Dundee,Scotland.
Peter Grant (1824-1868) was born in 1824 in Ireland. Little is known about him prior to his enlistment with the 93rd Regiment of Foot (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and was posted to the Indian Mutiny in 1857.
Grant VC Memorial Bench Eastern Necropolis
On the morning of 16th November 1857, during the storming of the Secundra Bagh, as the fighting in the villa dwindled, Lieutenant-Colonel Ewart, who had been prominent throughout the attack, fought two mutineers for their regimental standard, which they were defending. He managed to kill them despite being hacked in his sword arm, and carried off his prize. Private Grant followed his commanding officer and fought off the rebels as they tried to regain the colours. Grabbing a fallen tulwar, Grant killed five sepoys enabling Ewart to present the colours to Sir Colin Campbell. Much to Ewart’s dismay, Campbell severely rebuked him with “Damn your colours, sir! It’s not your place to be taking colours! Go back to your regiment this instant, sir!”
Private Grant was elected by his fellow soldiers and received his VC from Major-General Robert Garrett at Umbeyla, Peshawar on 6th December 1859. Sadly, following a return to Scotland with the 93rd, Grant was stationed at Aberdeen. On the night of 10th January 1868, he had decided to visit friends in Dundee. After an evening of drinking at a local public house, Grant disappeared, and it was presumed that he fell into the River Tay. His body was eventually discovered by Constable Bremner floating to the east of Craig Harbour. When his body was found, his medals including his VC and Indian Mutiny medal were pinned to his tunic. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Eastern Necropolis, Dundee. Interestingly, despite the fact his medals were retrieved from his body, they have since disappeared and their current location is not known.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: EASTERN NECROPOLIS, DUNDEE, SCOTLAND. SECTION S, LAIR 309
