The sale estimate was between £100,000 and £160,000. The sale hammer price realised £130,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

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.

James Kirk was killed during his Victoria Cross action and is buried in the Ors Communal Cemetery, France.