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Private John Chipman Kerr

View Attestation Images [2]Attestation record: John Chipman Kerr Attestation record: John Chipman Kerr
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PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of birth: 1887-01-11
Place of birth: Fox River Nova Scotia Canada
Next of kin: Elizabeth Kerr; mother; Fox River, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Marital status: single
Occupation (attested): Farmer
Occupation (normalized): General Farmer
Address: Spirit River, Alberta
Religion: Church of England
Date of death: 1963-02-19
Buried: Vancouver (Mountain View) Cemetery, ABRAY-*-05-006-0009

MILITARY INFORMATION

Regimental number: 101465
Highest Rank: Private
Rank detail
  1. Private (Army). 1917-09-15 to 1918-04-20
  2. Corporal (Army). 1917-05-26 to 1917-09-15
  3. Private (Army). 1917-05-12 to 1917-05-26
  4. Private (Army). 1917-05-11 to 1917-05-12
  5. Private (Army). 1917-05-01 to 1917-05-11
  6. Private (Army). 1917-03-31 to 1917-05-01
  7. Private (Army). 1917-03-10 to 1917-03-31
  8. Private (Army). 1916-12-15 to 1917-03-10
  9. Private, 49th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1916-06-06 to 1916-12-15
  10. Private (Army). 1915-09-25 to 1916-06-06
Degree of service: Europe
Survived war: yes
Battle wounded/killed: Wounded September 16, 1916 at Courcelette
Awards

Victoria Cross (Flers-Coucelette)
Description: For most conspicuous bravery. During a bombing attack he was acting as bayonet man, and, knowing 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 on them at point blank range and inflicted heavy loss. The enemy thinking they were surrounded surrendered. Sixty-two prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Before carrying out this very plucky act, one of Pte. Kerr's fingers had been blown off by a bomb. Later, with two other men, he escorted back the prisoners under fire, and then returned to report himself for duty before having his wound dressed.
Date of award: 1916-10-26
Date of award: 1916-09-16
Source: London Gazette No. 19802, dated October 26, 1916, pg. 10395. Awarded by King George V at Buckingham Palace February 5, 1917.
Comment: Kerr and small group of men charged enemy trench after prolonged grenade exchange. Captured 62 enemy soldiers.Wounded during action.
Notes: Canadian War Museum

Images

John Chipman Kerr,VC, Grave Stone
John Chipman Kerr,VC, Grave Stone
Chip Kerr, VC
Chip Kerr, VC
John Chipman ’Chip’ Kerr, VC
John Chipman ’Chip’ Kerr, VC

RESEARCH INFORMATION

LAC ID: 496223
Attestation record(s): image 1, image 2
Service file: B5118-S023
Uploader's Notes:

Son of Robert Kerr and Elizabeth Kerr (nee Green); husband of Clarissa Gertrude Kerr (nee Bridger) married November 7, 1917

Awarded Victoria Cross for action near Courcelette, France, September 16, 1916. Kerr and small group of men captured 62 enemy soldiers, and he received a gunshot wound to the right hand during the action.

Discharged April 20, 1918 Medically Unfit.

Grave marker images: https://www.thecphl.com/valour/soldiers/kerr.john.chipman.vc.html

Uploader's Research notes:

66th Battalion Nominal Roll

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7723950/john-chipman-kerr

http://vconline.org.uk/john-c-kerr-vc/4587307751

[Private Army Canadian Infantry Alberta Regimental Depot Private Army Canadian Infantry Canadian Troops Headquarters London Area Attached Corporal Army Canadian Infantry Canadian Troops Headquarters London Area Attached Private Army Canadian Infantry 49th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 66th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre Private Army Canadian Forestry Corps 224th Forestry Company Private Army Canadian Forestry Corps Canadian Forestry Corps Headquarters Private Army Canadian Forestry Corps Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot Sunningdale Private Army Canadian Forestry Corps Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot Sunningdale Discharged Medically Unfit Victoria Cross Flers-Coucelette For most conspicuous bravery. During a bombing attack he was acting as bayonet man, and, knowing 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 on them at point blank range and inflicted heavy loss. The enemy thinking they were surrounded surrendered. Sixty-two prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Before carrying out this very plucky act, one of Pte. Kerr's fingers had been blown off by a bomb. Later, with two other men, he escorted back the prisoners under fire, and then returned to report himself for duty before having his wound dressed.

Kerr and small group of men charged enemy trench after prolonged grenade exchange. Captured 62 enemy soldiers.

Wounded during action.

]

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Date added: 2006-12-07
Last modified: 2021-09-09