Frank Howard Kirby VC

Name: Frank Howard Kirby

Conflict: Second Boer War

Gazetted: October 5, 1900

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Thame, Oxfordshire/November 12, 1871

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Corporal (later Lieutenant Colonel)

Date of bravery: June 2, 1900

London Gazette citation:

Royal Engineers. Corporal F. Kirby.

On the morning of the 2nd June, 1900, a party sent to try to cut the Delagoa Bay Railway were retiring, hotly pressed by very superior numbers.

During one of the successive retirements of the rearguard, a man, whose horse had been shot, was seen running after his comrades. He was a long way behind the rest of his troop and was under a brisk fire. From among the retiring troop Corporal Kirby turned and rode back to the man’s assistance. Although by the time he reached him they were under a heavy fire at close range, Corporal Kirby managed to get the dismounted man up behind him and to take him clear off over the next rise held by our rearguard. This is the third occasion on which Corporal Kirby has displayed gallantry in the face of the enemy.

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Other decorations: CBE, DCM

Place/date of death: Sidcup, Kent/July 8, 1956

Grave/memorials: Streatham Vale Crematorium, London; Chatham Garrison Church, Kent

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2003

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum