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Honour at last for the VC hero of India buried in a pauper's grave
Last updated at 00:22am on 19.04.08
Brave soldier: Robert Grant died in poverty
One of Britain's bravest soldiers, who died in poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave, is to have his final resting place recognised.
Almost 150 years after Corporal Robert Grant was put in a common grave in Highgate Cemetery, Met commissioner Sir Ian Blair will unveil a stone to commemorate his life.
Cpl Grant, then 20, was awarded the Victoria Cross after risking his life to carry a wounded comrade off the battlefield while under fire during the Indian Rebellion, the start of India's long journey to independence, in 1857.
After ten years in the Army, which he had joined at 17, he returned to London and joined the Met's Y division, covering Kentish Town, and became Pc 306.
He was still serving when he died of consumption, aged 30, penniless and apparently without family.
He was Plinth model goes on show buried with nine others in the grave, known only by the number 15054.
Officers at Kentish Town have campaigned for two years to have his grave formally commemorated.
Pc Dave King said: “As a member of the old Y division, he was very much one of us and he policed Highgate, so it is fitting that we should commemorate him.”
Grave digger Phil Seaton, who researched Cpl Grant's history, said: “The cemetery was obliged to take burials from those who died in parishes in north Londonand there are a number of common graves.
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Resting place: Highgate Cemetry where Grant is buried in a common grave known only as 15054
'It is interesting, and quite sad, that a VC winner and serving police officer should end up in one.”
He uncovered the medal citation for Cpl Grant, later promoted to Sergeant in the Fifth Regiment of Foot.
It said: “For conspicuous devotion at Alumbagh, on the 24th September 1857, in proceeding under a heavy and galling fire, to save the life of Private Deveney, whose leg had been shot away, and eventually carrying him safe into camp.”
The date of the ceremony to rededicate the grave has not yet been set.
John Oakes, trustee of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery, said: “Anything which reinforces the cemetery's significance in the public imagination as a preserver of history is welcome.”
