James Kirk (VC)

James Kirk
Born (1897-01-27)27 January 1897
Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
Died 4 November 1918(1918-11-04) (aged 21)
Oise Canal, France
Buried Ors Communal Cemetery
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Years of service 1915 - 1918
Rank Second Lieutenant
Unit Manchester Regiment
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Victoria Cross

James Kirk VC (27 January 1897 – 4 November 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Kirk was born on 27 January 1897 in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire to James and Rachel Kirk.[1] He enlisted as a private in the Manchester Regiment in 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1918.[2] Kirk was a 21-year-old second lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, British Army, attached to the 2nd Battalion during the First World War when the actions that led to his recognition took place.

Citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty North of Ors on 4th Nov., 1918, whilst attempting to bridge the Oise Canal. To cover the bridging of the canal he took a Lewis gun, and, under intense machine-gun fire, paddled across the canal on a raft, and at a range of ten yards expended all his ammunition. Further ammunition was paddled across to him and he continuously maintained a covering fire for the bridging party from a most exposed position till killed at his gun. The supreme contempt of danger and magnificent self-sacrifice displayed by this gallant officer prevented many casualties and enabled two platoons to cross the bridge before it was destroyed.

— The London Gazette, No. 31108, 3 January 1919[3][1]

References

  1. 1 2 Kirk, James, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. ↑ Manchester Heroes Archived 27 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "No. 31108". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 1919. p. 307.
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