John Chipman Kerr: Difference between revisions
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| birth_date = 11 January 1887 | | birth_date = 11 January 1887 | ||
| death_date = 19 February 1963 | | death_date = 19 February 1963 | ||
| placeofburial = [[Mountain View Cemetery (Vancouver)|Mountain View Cemetery]], | | placeofburial = [[Mountain View Cemetery (Vancouver)|Mountain View Cemetery]], Vancouver | ||
| image = A. Y. Jackson-John Chipman KERR VC (CWM 19710261-0174).jpeg | | image = A. Y. Jackson-John Chipman KERR VC (CWM 19710261-0174).jpeg | ||
| caption = portrait painted by [[A. Y. Jackson]] | | caption = portrait painted by [[A. Y. Jackson]] | ||
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| birth_place = [[Fox River, Nova Scotia]] | | birth_place = [[Fox River, Nova Scotia]] | ||
| death_place = [[Port Moody]], British Columbia | | death_place = [[Port Moody]], British Columbia | ||
| allegiance = | | allegiance = Canada | ||
| branch = [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]] | | branch = {{ubl | [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]] | [[Canadian Army]] | [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]}} | ||
| serviceyears = | | serviceyears = | ||
| rank = [[Private (rank)|Private]] (Army) | | rank = {{ubl | [[Private (rank)|Private]] (Army) | [[Sergeant]] (Air Force)}} | ||
| unit = [[49th (Edmonton) Battalion]] | | unit = [[49th (Edmonton) Battalion]] | ||
| commands = | | commands = | ||
| battles = [[First World War]] | | battles = {{ubl | [[First World War]] | [[Second World War]]}} | ||
| awards = [[Victoria Cross]] | | awards = [[Victoria Cross]] | ||
| relations = | | relations = | ||
| laterwork = | | laterwork = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''John Chipman Kerr''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (January 11, 1887 – February 19, 1963), was the twenty-first Canadian recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to | '''John Chipman Kerr''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (January 11, 1887 – February 19, 1963), was the twenty-first Canadian recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. | ||
In 1912, after working as a lumberjack in the Kootenay district of [[British Columbia]], he bought a homestead in [[Spirit River, Alberta]], where he and his brother farmed until war broke out. Immediately they set out for [[Edmonton]], leaving only a single note tacked to the door of their humble shed. It read: "War is Hell, but what is homesteading?" | In 1912, after working as a lumberjack in the Kootenay district of [[British Columbia]], he bought a homestead in [[Spirit River, Alberta]], where he and his brother farmed until war broke out. Immediately they set out for [[Edmonton]], leaving only a single note tacked to the door of their humble shed. It read: "War is Hell, but what is homesteading?" | ||
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He was 29 years old, and a [[Private (rank)|private]] in the [[49th (Edmonton) Battalion]], [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]], during the [[First World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. | He was 29 years old, and a [[Private (rank)|private]] in the [[49th (Edmonton) Battalion]], [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]], during the [[First World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. | ||
On 16 September 1916 at [[Courcelette]], | On 16 September 1916 at [[Courcelette]], France, during a bombing attack, Private Kerr was acting as bayonet man and noting that bombs were running short, he ran along the [[parados]] under heavy fire until he was in close contact with the enemy when he opened fire at point-blank range, inflicting heavy losses. The enemy, thinking that they were surrounded, surrendered: 62 prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Earlier, Private Kerr's fingers had been blown off, but he did not have his wound dressed until he and two other men had escorted the prisoners back under fire and reported for duty.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 29802|date=26 October 1916|page=10395 |supp=y}}</ref> | ||
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Canadian War Museum]] in [[Ottawa]], Ontario, Canada. | His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Canadian War Museum]] in [[Ottawa]], Ontario, Canada. | ||
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After the war he returned to farm in Alberta and also worked in the oil patch and as a forest ranger in Alberta.<ref>Alberta Government "The Victoria Cross Mountain Ranges" website</ref> | After the war he returned to farm in Alberta and also worked in the oil patch and as a forest ranger in Alberta.<ref>Alberta Government "The Victoria Cross Mountain Ranges" website</ref> | ||
He was a great uncle of [[Greg Kerr]], member of Parliament for [[West Nova]] | He was a great uncle of [[Greg Kerr]], member of Parliament for [[West Nova]] 2008–2015. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Latest revision as of 16:49, 21 June 2025
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". John Chipman Kerr VC (January 11, 1887 – February 19, 1963), was the twenty-first Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and other Commonwealth forces.
In 1912, after working as a lumberjack in the Kootenay district of British Columbia, he bought a homestead in Spirit River, Alberta, where he and his brother farmed until war broke out. Immediately they set out for Edmonton, leaving only a single note tacked to the door of their humble shed. It read: "War is Hell, but what is homesteading?"
He was 29 years old, and a private in the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 16 September 1916 at Courcelette, France, during a bombing attack, Private Kerr was acting as bayonet man and noting that bombs were running short, he ran along the parados under heavy fire until he was in close contact with the enemy when he opened fire at point-blank range, inflicting heavy losses. The enemy, thinking that they were surrounded, surrendered: 62 prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Earlier, Private Kerr's fingers had been blown off, but he did not have his wound dressed until he and two other men had escorted the prisoners back under fire and reported for duty.[1]
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Mount Kerr in the Victoria Cross Ranges in Jasper National Park, Alberta, was named in his honour in 1951, and in 2006 Chip Kerr Park in Port Moody, British Columbia, was dedicated.
After the war he returned to farm in Alberta and also worked in the oil patch and as a forest ranger in Alberta.[2]
He was a great uncle of Greg Kerr, member of Parliament for West Nova 2008–2015.
See also
References
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Further reading
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
External links
- John Chipman Kerr's digitized service file
- John Chipman Kerr biography Template:Webarchive on DND's Directorate of History and Heritage
- Legion Magazine article on John Kerr Template:Webarchive
- Kerr's Medals at the Canadian War Museum
- City of Port Moody - Chip Kerr memorial
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata
- List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients
- Pages with script errors
- Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y
- Canadian Battle of the Somme recipients of the Victoria Cross
- 1887 births
- 1963 deaths
- People from Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
- Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers
- Canadian Army soldiers
- Canadian military personnel of World War I
- Burials at Mountain View Cemetery (Vancouver)
- Canadian military personnel from Nova Scotia
- Loyal Edmonton Regiment
- Loyal Edmonton Regiment soldiers