Cecil John Kinross
Encyclopedia
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(February 17, 1896 – June 21, 1957) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
on October 30, 1917, at Passchendaele during the First World War 21 year-old, Kinross performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Biography
Born February 17, 1896 at Dews Farm, Harefield, Middlesex. His father's family originated in PerthshirePerthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
. He moved to Lougheed, Alberta
Lougheed, Alberta
Lougheed is a village in central Alberta, Canada. It is located 94 km south-east of Camrose, along Highway 13.- Demographics :The population of the Village of Lougheed according to its 2010 municipal census is 254, a 5.8% increase over its 2009 municipal census population of 240.In 2006,...
with his parents and siblings in 1912. He was inducted voluntarily into the army at Calgary, Alberta, October 21, 1915 as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
.
Citation
"No. 437793 Private Cecil John Kinross, Can. Inf.For the most conspicuous bravery in action during prolonged and severe operations.
Shortly after the attack (on Passchendaele Ridge) was launched, the company to which he belonged came under intense artillery fire, and further advance was held up by a very severe fire from an enemy machine gun. Private Kinross, making a careful survey of the situation, deliberately divested himself of all his equipment save his rifle and bandolier and, regardless of his personal safety, advanced alone over the open ground in broad daylight, charged the enemy machine gun, killing the crew of six, and seized and destroyed the gun. His superb example and courage instilled the greatest confidence in his company, and enabled a further advance of 300 yards to be made and a highly important position to be established."
Wounded in the arm and head in 1917 and hospitalised at Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, England. Presented with Victoria Cross by King George, in March 1918. Died in the Lougheed Hotel, June 21, 1957.
Further information
His grave and memorial are at Lougheed Cemetery, Alberta, Canada. Soldier's Plot. Headstone.Mount Kinross, 2560m, 24km NW of Jasper, Alberta in the Jasper National Park was named after him in 1951.
The medal
His medal is held by his family while the miniature is on display at The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.