Private Cecil John Kinross
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
- Private, 49th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
- Private (Army).
Victoria Cross (Passchendaele)
Description: 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.
Date of award: 1918-01-11
Date of award: 1917-10-30
Source: London Gazette
Notes: His medal is held by his family while the miniature is on display at The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum in Edmonton, Alberta
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Son of James Stirling Kinross and Emily Kinross (nee Hull)
On attestation papers, birthplace is incorrectly noted as Oxbridge, Middlesex.
Enlisted with the 51st Battalion at Calgary, Alberta, on 21 Oct 1915. Embarked for Britain on 18 Dec 1915 aboard S.S. Missanabie. Posted to the 9th Reserve Battalion on 28 Dec 1915. Proceeded to France for service with the 49th Battalion on 6 Mar 1916. Wounded on 8 Oct 1916 and admitted to hospital with shrapnel wounds to his right arm and side. Rejoined 49th in the field on 23 May 1916. Wounded at Passchendaele on 30 Oct 1917, in an action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, with a shell wound to his left arm and head, hospitalized and invalided back to Britain. Posted to the 21st Reserve Battalion on 15 Feb 1918 . Sailed for Canada on 20 Jan 1919. Honourably discharged on 17 Feb 1919.
Mount Kinross in the VC Range of the Canadian Rockies, 24km NW of Jasper, Alberta was named after him in 1951.
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. ]