John Brunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Henry Cound Brunt
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Second Lieutenant John Brunt, pictured here in 1943, with the badges of the Sherwood Foresters.
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| Born | 6 December 1922 Priest Weston, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 10 December 1944 (aged 22) Faenza, Italy |
| Buried |
Faenza War Cemetery, Italy
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Service number | 258297 |
| Unit | Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Sherwood Foresters, attached Lincolnshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
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| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Cross |
John Henry Cound Brunt (born December 6, 1922 – died December 10, 1944) was a brave English soldier. He was a Captain in the British Army. He received the Victoria Cross (VC) and the Military Cross (MC). The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy. It can be given to British and Commonwealth soldiers.
Captain Brunt fought in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. He earned two awards for his courage. Sadly, he was killed by enemy fire just one day after the actions that earned him the Victoria Cross.
Early Life and Adventures
John's Childhood in Shropshire
John Henry Cound Brunt was born on December 6, 1922. His family lived on a farm in Priest Weston, Shropshire, England. He had an older sister, Dorothy, and a younger sister, Isobel. John started school in Chirbury village.
When John was young, his family moved to a farm near Whittington, Shropshire. John was a very fearless child. He once taught himself to swim by reading a comic book. He then jumped into the Shropshire Canal without telling anyone!
School Days and Sports
John later went to Ellesmere College. He was known for being a bit mischievous there. He loved sports and played cricket, hockey, rugby, water polo, and wrestling. He was a very active and daring student.
In 1934, John's family moved to Paddock Wood in Kent. During his school breaks, John would come home. He was still very daring. He even helped train the local Home Guard during the war. This was a group of volunteers who defended Britain.
Military Career and Bravery
Joining the Army
After finishing school, John Brunt joined the British Army in 1941. He trained as a private soldier. In 1943, he became an officer, a second lieutenant. He was then sent to North Africa.
John was officially part of the Sherwood Foresters regiment. However, he ended up serving with the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. This unit was part of the 46th Infantry Division.
Fighting in Italy
On September 9, 1943, John's battalion landed in Salerno, Italy. This was part of the Allied invasion of Italy. John, now a lieutenant, led a group of soldiers called a platoon. His unit then moved to set up a base near the Asa river.
Earning the Military Cross
Between December 1943 and January 1944, John Brunt was constantly in action. This was during the fighting at the Bernhardt Line. On December 15, his patrol was ordered to destroy an enemy post. This post was in some houses near the River Peccia.
John led his soldiers across the river many times. They even started calling it "Brunt's Brook." After a short but intense attack, John led his men forward. They fought bravely against the enemy soldiers. After thirty minutes of fierce fighting, they pulled back. John stayed behind with two other soldiers to rescue a wounded man. For his amazing bravery, he was given the Military Cross.
John was in the hospital in January 1944. But he begged to leave to join another attack. He was allowed to go and led his patrol under heavy fire. He was back in the hospital a day later with a head injury. But he still wanted to keep fighting!
The Victoria Cross Action
John's division left Italy in March 1944 to rest. They returned to Italy in July 1944. John had been promoted to temporary Captain. He was now the second-in-command of 'D' Company.
By December 1944, his battalion was fighting near Ravenna. They were pushing back German troops. On December 3, they began their attack on the city of Faenza. By December 6, they had taken the village of Ragazzina. After heavy fighting, they set up defenses in Faenza. For his actions during this time, Captain Brunt was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Incredible Bravery on December 9, 1944
On December 9, 1944, Captain Brunt's platoon was holding a very important part of the battle line. At dawn, German tanks and soldiers attacked strongly. The house where his platoon was dug in was destroyed. The area was hit with heavy mortar fire.
The situation became very dangerous. Their anti-tank defenses were destroyed, and two friendly tanks were knocked out. But Captain Brunt gathered his remaining men. He moved them to a new spot and kept fighting the enemy soldiers. Even though they were outnumbered, he fired a Bren gun himself, killing about fourteen enemy soldiers.
His radio was destroyed, but he got a message to pull back. He stayed behind to provide covering fire. When he ran out of Bren gun bullets, he used other weapons left by wounded soldiers. Then, he ran across open ground to the new position.
His brave defense made the enemy stop. So, Captain Brunt took some men back to their old position. Even under heavy enemy fire, he carried away the wounded soldiers who had been left behind.
Later that day, the enemy attacked again. Captain Brunt immediately grabbed another Bren gun. He went around his positions, encouraging his men. Then, he jumped onto a Sherman tank that was helping his company. He stood on the tank's turret, directing its machine gun fire at the enemy. He did this even though enemy bullets were flying everywhere.
He then saw small groups of enemy soldiers trying to sneak around. He jumped off the tank and, taking a Bren gun, went ahead of his company's positions. He hunted these enemy groups, killing more of them. This made the enemy finally retreat very quickly, leaving their dead behind.
Wherever the fighting was hardest, Captain Brunt was there. He moved from one spot to another, cheering on his men. He fired any weapon he could find at any enemy he saw. His actions were amazing. His calmness, bravery, and complete disregard for his own safety were beyond praise. His personal example and actions were a huge reason why the fierce enemy attacks were stopped.
A Hero's Final Day
The next morning, December 10, 1944, Captain Brunt was killed. He was standing in a doorway, having tea and chatting with friends. A stray German mortar bomb landed at his feet, killing him instantly. He had just turned 22 years old four days before.
John Brunt is buried at Faenza War Cemetery in Italy. His Victoria Cross was announced after his death in February 1945.
Honoring a Hero
Awards Presentation
On December 18, 1945, King George VI presented John Brunt's Victoria Cross and Military Cross to his parents. This happened at Buckingham Palace. John's father met Sir Harold Alexander, a top British general. Sir Harold told John's father, "There is always only one who will do the unexpected, and that day it was your son."
Lasting Memory
In 1946, John's sister Dorothy named her son John Brunt Miller, in honor of her brave brother.
In 1947, a pub in Paddock Wood, Kent, was renamed "The John Brunt V.C." in his honor. A small group of houses behind the pub was also named John Brunt VC Court.
John Brunt's awards are on display at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln. These include his Victoria Cross, Military Cross, and several other war medals. In 1951, an altar rail in Lincoln Cathedral was dedicated to his memory.
In 1965, the comic book The Victor featured a story about John Brunt. It was called Brunt V.C. and showed his brave actions.
A cricket pavilion was opened at Ellesmere College in 1970, named the John Brunt Memorial Cricket Pavilion. There is also a photograph of him in the college's chapel. In May 2004, a plaque was put up in Priestweston to remember him.
