James Kirk | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1897-01-27)27 January 1897 Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 4 November 1918(1918-11-04) (aged 21) Oise Canal, near Ors, France |
| Buried | Ors Communal Cemetery, France |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Service years | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | Manchester Regiment |
| Conflicts | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Second LieutenantJames KirkVC (27 January 1897 – 4 November 1918) was aBritish Army officer and an English recipient of theVictoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
Kirk was born on 27 January 1897 inCheadle Hulme, Cheshire[1] to James and Rachel Kirk.[2][3] He enlisted as aprivate in theManchester Regiment in 1915, and was commissioned as asecond lieutenant in June 1918.[4] Kirk was a 21-year-oldsecond lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment,British Army, attached to the 2nd Battalion during theFirst World War when the actions that led to his recognition took place.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty North of Ors on 4 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.[5][2]
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