In France he served at Armentières, Bois-Grenier, L'Epinette, Ploegsteert Wood, Messines, La Basse Ville, and Warneton.

The announcement and accompanying citation for the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 31 July 1917, reading:[1] On 7 June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy's position, and after his own company had suffered very heavy casualties, Captain Grieve located two hostile machine-guns which were holding up his advance.

He established the business of Grieve, Gardner & Co., soft-goods warehousemen, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne, and was managing director until 4 October 1957 when he died of cardiac failure.

Grieve's medal was presented by his family to Wesley College in 1959, and has been lent to the Shrine of Remembrance, where it is on permanent display.

A son, Robert Henderson "Bob" Grieve (30 November 1924 – 15 December 2006) was a noted artist[2][3] and president of the Victorian branch of the Contemporary Art Society from 1967 to 1987.