Anglo Boer War

Surname

Forename

Rank

Notes

Unit

Kirby

F H

29491

2nd Corporal

Transferred to G Company. Discharged. QSA (2) sent 10 Mar 1903.

QSA (2) Belm MR

TNA ref 156/2

Royal Engineers, Railway Company, 8th

Kirby

F H

Ordinary Seaman

QSA (0). Ref: 190.292. Medal returned
Source: QSA medal rolls

HMS Philomel

Kirby

F V

Trooper / Private

Frontier Wars. SAGS (1) 1879

Lonsdale's Horse

Kirby

Frank Howard

26810

Troop Sergeant Major

To 4th Field Troop 19 May 1900. Awarded DCM for action north of Bloemfontein 13 Mar 1900. LG 2 Oct 1900. Awarded the VC for action related to attack on Delagoa Bay Railway on 2 Jun 1900. LG 8 Oct 1900. To 4th Field Troop 19 Aug 1900. Later to E Company.

QSA (4) RoK Paard DH SA01

TNA ref 1660/31

Royal Engineers, Field Troop, 1st

Kirby

Frank Howard

26810

Corporal

1st Field Troop. North of Bloemfontein 13 Mar 00. VC.
Source: DCM recipients

Royal Engineers

Kirby

Frank Howard

Corporal

He was born at Thame, Oxfordshire, on 12 November 1871, the son of Mr William Henry Kirby, of that town, and Ada Kirby. He was educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich, and entered the Royal Engineers at St George's Barracks, London, on 8 August 1892, and proceeded to South Africa with Field Troops, Royal Engineers, on mobilization in 1899. He served in the South African War of 1899-1902, and gained the Distinguished Conduct Medal for blowing up the Bloemfontein Railway, at action of Bloemfontein, in March 1900. He won his Victoria Cross in a raid north of Kronstadt with General Hunter Weston. He was mentioned several times in Despatches, and in July, 1900, was promoted Troop Sergeant Major (from Corporal), on the field, by Lord Roberts. Sergeant Major Kirby was decorated with the Victoria Cross by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York at Cape Town on 19 August 1901. His Victoria Cross was gazetted 8 October 1900: 'Frank Howard Kirby, Corporal, Royal Engineers. On the morning of the 2nd June, 1900, a party sent to try to cut the Delagoa Bay Railway were retiring, hotly pressed by very superior numbers. During one of the successive retirements of the rearguard, a man whose horse had been shot was seen running after his comrades. He was a long way behind the rest of his troop, and was under a brisk fire. From among the retiring troops Corporal Kirby turned and rode back to the man's assistance. Although by the time he reached him they were under a heavy fire at close range, Corporal Kirby managed to get the dismounted man up behind him and to take him clear off over the next rise held by our rearguard. This is the third occasion on which Corporal Kirby has displayed gallantry in the face of the enemy'.
In December 1906, he became a warrant officer. In 1909 he married Miss Kate Jolly, and they had two sons and two daughters. In April, 1911, he was commissioned from the ranks. Lieutenant and Quartermaster F H Kirby was posted to the Air Battalion, Royal Engineers, at Farnborough, and in 1912 was gazetted to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he became a Squadron Commander. He served in the European War in France in 1916 and 1917, and was given his Captaincy for services in the field, 1 January 1917. He became temporary Lieutenant Colonel.
Source: VC recipients (VC and DSO book)

Royal Engineers

Kirby

Frederick

4768

Private

QSA (5). Severe Wound, Witkopje, 06 Oct 01. Discharged Invalided.
Source: QSA medal rolls

1st (King's) Dragoon Guards

Kirby

Frederick Vaughan

Lieut

Source: Nominal roll in WO127

Gorringe's Flying Column