THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO 2ND LIEUTENANT JAMES KIRK, 10TH BN, MANCHESTER REGIMENT, HAS BEEN PUT IN STORAGE IN CALIFORNIA.
18 October 2014


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of 2nd Lieutenant James Kirk,
10th Bn ( att'd 2nd Bn ), Manchester Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )

For a number of years the Victoria Cross awarded to Second Lieutenant James Kirk, 10th Bn, ( att'd 2nd Bn ), Manchester Regiment, had resided with the Military Medal Museum located in San Jose, California, USA. The museum contents were essentially a private collection which the owner was always willing to share with the general public.

Following the death of the owner several years ago the museum closed and the entire contents of medals and decorations placed in storage, where they have remained ever since. The owner's widow is still alive but very elderly and her son has indicated there is no necessity to dispose of the medal collection in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the James Kirk Victoria Cross will remain in storage in the care of the Military Medal Museum collection, San Jose.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 6 January 1919 ], Oise Canal, Ors, France, 4 November 1918, 2nd Lieutenant James Kirk, 10th Bn ( att'd 2nd Bn ) Manchester Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty North of Ors on 4th November 1918, while 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 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 parents of James Kirk were presented with their son's posthumous Victoria Cross by King George V in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace on the 1st March 1919.


James Kirk is buried in Ors Communal Cemetery, France, along with Lieutenant Colonel James Marshall, comd 16th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers, who also earned a posthumous Victoria Cross on the same day.

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Iain Stewart, 18 October 2014