John Chipman KerrVC (January 11, 1887 – February 19, 1963), was a 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 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?"
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]
john, chipman, kerr, january, 1887, february, 1963, canadian, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, portrait, painted, jacksonborn11, january, 1887fox, river, nova, . John Chipman Kerr VC January 11 1887 February 19 1963 was a 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 Commonwealth forces John Chipman Kerrportrait painted by A Y JacksonBorn11 January 1887Fox River Nova ScotiaDied19 February 1963Port Moody British ColumbiaBuriedMountain View Cemetery VancouverAllegianceCanadaService wbr branchCanadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian ArmyRoyal Canadian Air ForceRankPrivate Army Sergeant Air Force Unit49th Edmonton BattalionBattles warsFirst World WarSecond World WarAwardsVictoria CrossIn 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 15 Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Chipman Kerr Military history of Nova ScotiaReferences edit No 29802 The London Gazette Supplement 26 October 1916 p 10395 Alberta Government The Victoria Cross Mountain Ranges websiteFurther reading editMonuments 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 editJohn Chipman Kerr s digitized service file John Chipman Kerr biography on DND s Directorate of History and Heritage Legion Magazine article on John Kerr Kerr s Medals at the Canadian War Museum City of Port Moody Chip Kerr memorial John Chipman Kerr at Find a Grave List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Chipman Kerr amp oldid 1152775691, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
