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The Victoria Cross Garden

Corner of High, Dixon and Vogel Streets, Hāwera

The newest addition to King Edward Park (in 2018), Victoria Cross Garden commemorates Sergeants John Gilroy Grant and Harry John Laurent, both from Hāwera, who earned the supreme award for valour within days of each other in September 1918.

Shaped like the Victoria Cross, statues of the two Sergeants are the focal point of the memorial garden, which is near the streets named after them. Commemorative Oak trees alongside the Hāwera Water Tower were planted by the two men.

Opened by South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop on 15 September 2018, this project driven by the Hāwera RSA and supported by South Taranaki District Council, the garden also marks the centenary of the end of WWI.

"Of the 11 New Zealanders to have received the Victoria Cross during WW1, it is pretty impressive that two of them came from Hawera," South Taranaki District Mayor Ross said.

John Gildroy Grant, VC,

1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment

John was born in Hawera in 1889 and prior to World War 1 worked as a building and contractor. He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 14 June 1915 and embarked for Egypt with the 7th Reinforcements to the NZEF in October. He joined the Taranaki Company of the 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment in France in 1916.

After 2 years of fighting in Belguim and France he rose to the rank of Sergeant. On 1 September 1918 he was in command of a platoon during an attack on Bancourt Ridge.

“One reaching the crest, it was found that a line of five enemy machine-gun posts offered a serious obstacle to further advance. When about twenty yards from the posts, Sergeant Grant rushed forward ahead of his platoon and with great dash and bravery entered the centre post, demoralising the garrison and enabling the men of his platoon to mop up the position. In the same manner he then rushed the post on the left, and the remaining posts were quickly occupied and cleared. Throughout the whole operation Sergeant Grant displayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order and set a splendid example to all”. For this action Sergeant Grant was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Henry John Laurent VC

2nd Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade

Born in 1895 at Tarata, he attended Hawera District High School before leaving to work in a cheese making factory. When war broke out in 1914, Laurent joined the NZEF and was send first to Egypt and from there to France to serve with the NZ Rifle Brigade.

While in France he showed great leadership and was promoted to Sergeant. During the Allied advance toward the end of the war, the New Zealanders came up against a strong German position at Gouzeaucourt Wood. On 12 September 1918 during confused attacks on this objective, Sergeant Laurent was sent out with a twelve-man patrol to probe the enemy defences. Finding a heavily fortified trench system, he immediately attacked. After hand-to-hand fighting the twelve Kiwis killed thirty of the enemy, captured the trench and took 112 enemy soldiers prisoner. When the Germans counter attacked, Laurent managed to retreat in good order, keeping his prisoners under control and fighting a rear-guard action. “The success of this daring venture was due to Sergeant Laurent’s gallantry and enterprise”. This rather incredible action resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Laurent.

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