terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Hello folks,
I would like to bring to your attention a little story of a soldier in the Canadian Infantry who was awrded the Victoria Cross in World War 1. The soldier in question is Pte Cecil John Kinross and he was awarded the V.C. for heroic deeds during the Battle of Passchendaele in the autumn of 1917. If you 'Google' his name in the internet you will get several accounts of his life and his drink related problems in later life etc. He was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex and his father came from Scotland. However, no mention is ever made of his childhood and teenage years growing up near the village of Lea Marston, before his family emigrated to Canada in 1912.
The following account is taken from the Birmingham Weekly Post published on 23 February 1918:
LEA MARSTON'S V.C.: VILLAGE WELCOME AND PRESENTATION
The inhabitants of Lea Marston, Curdworth, Minworth, and Wythall gave a public reception on Saturday to Pte Cecil John Kinross, of the Canadian Infantry, upon his gaining the Victoria Cross. Pte Kinross was greeted at Water Orton Station by relatives and friends, and was carried shoulder high to a waiting motor-car, in which he made a tour of the parishes named, the procession being headed by the Sutton Park Military Band, children from the Lea Marston School, and boys from the Coleshill Grammer School, at both of which Pte Kinross was educated.
Pte Kinross was born at Uxbridge in 1895, but he spent his early years at Lea Marston, where his father, before emigrating to Canada, farmed the Lea Farm and the Hollies.
"Shortly after the attack was launched the company to which he belonged came under intense artillery fire, and further advance was held by severe fire from an enemy machine-gun. Pte Kinross, making a careful survey of the situation, divested himself of his equipment save his rifle and bandolier, and, regardless of his personal safety, advanced over the open ground in broad daylight, charged the enemy machine-gun, killing the crew of six, and seized and destroyed the gun. He thus enabled a further advance of 300 yards to be made and a highly important position to be established, fighting with the utmost aggressiveness against heavy odds until seriously wounded."
The villagers gave the hero a great reception, and at Lea Marston School he was presented with a gold watch, suitably inscribed, a gold chain, a wallet containing Treasury notes, and an illuminated address, which expressed admiration of his heroic conduct in a just and righteous cause. The total value of the gifts was about £90.
Pte Kinross, who has suffered from three severe wounds, and is on ten days hospital leave, briefly tendered his thanks for the unexpected gifts.
Now, the big question is are there any of Pte Kinross's relatives still living in Birmingham/North Warwickshire?
I would like to bring to your attention a little story of a soldier in the Canadian Infantry who was awrded the Victoria Cross in World War 1. The soldier in question is Pte Cecil John Kinross and he was awarded the V.C. for heroic deeds during the Battle of Passchendaele in the autumn of 1917. If you 'Google' his name in the internet you will get several accounts of his life and his drink related problems in later life etc. He was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex and his father came from Scotland. However, no mention is ever made of his childhood and teenage years growing up near the village of Lea Marston, before his family emigrated to Canada in 1912.
The following account is taken from the Birmingham Weekly Post published on 23 February 1918:
LEA MARSTON'S V.C.: VILLAGE WELCOME AND PRESENTATION
The inhabitants of Lea Marston, Curdworth, Minworth, and Wythall gave a public reception on Saturday to Pte Cecil John Kinross, of the Canadian Infantry, upon his gaining the Victoria Cross. Pte Kinross was greeted at Water Orton Station by relatives and friends, and was carried shoulder high to a waiting motor-car, in which he made a tour of the parishes named, the procession being headed by the Sutton Park Military Band, children from the Lea Marston School, and boys from the Coleshill Grammer School, at both of which Pte Kinross was educated.
Pte Kinross was born at Uxbridge in 1895, but he spent his early years at Lea Marston, where his father, before emigrating to Canada, farmed the Lea Farm and the Hollies.
"Shortly after the attack was launched the company to which he belonged came under intense artillery fire, and further advance was held by severe fire from an enemy machine-gun. Pte Kinross, making a careful survey of the situation, divested himself of his equipment save his rifle and bandolier, and, regardless of his personal safety, advanced over the open ground in broad daylight, charged the enemy machine-gun, killing the crew of six, and seized and destroyed the gun. He thus enabled a further advance of 300 yards to be made and a highly important position to be established, fighting with the utmost aggressiveness against heavy odds until seriously wounded."
The villagers gave the hero a great reception, and at Lea Marston School he was presented with a gold watch, suitably inscribed, a gold chain, a wallet containing Treasury notes, and an illuminated address, which expressed admiration of his heroic conduct in a just and righteous cause. The total value of the gifts was about £90.
Pte Kinross, who has suffered from three severe wounds, and is on ten days hospital leave, briefly tendered his thanks for the unexpected gifts.
Now, the big question is are there any of Pte Kinross's relatives still living in Birmingham/North Warwickshire?
