Vincent Michael Grogan

GROGAN, Vincent Michael- – – – SPC 1909-1911

DoB:– – 1895, Koroit, VIC

Father:- – John Joseph Grogan

Mother:– – Mary, nee Lineen

Vincent Grogan was a boarder at St Patrick’s. He competed in the Billiards Tournament for boarders in 1910, and was a keen athlete. He gained second place in the Commercial Class exams in 1910.

The College Annual of 1912 noted that he was working at McIlwraith, McEachern & Co Shipping Firm in Melbourne.

Service No:- 3114

Rank:- – Sergeant

Unit:– – 60th Battalion

Vincent Grogan enlisted on 30 July 1915 at the age of 20 years and 11 months. He was a single man, five feet, six inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He worked as a clerk at the shipping firm in Melbourne, mentioned above.

After leaving Australia for overseas service, he disembarked in Egypt. He was hospitalised at the end of December 1915 with tonsillitis and spent about a month recuperating in Cairo. He was taken on strength on 26 February 1916 by the 60th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, and proceeded with his unit to Marseilles in June.

On 19 July 1916 Sergeant Grogan was reported as missing in action -‘in the neighbourhood of Fromelles’, France. It transpired that he had been taken Prisoner of War by the German army, and died of his wounds sustained in battle while in German hands.

Sergeant Vincent Michael Grogan is remembered at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery & Memorial, Fromelles, France.