Cecil John Kinross VC (17 February 1896 – 21 June 1957) was a Canadian soldier in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Kinross was a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces. He was only nineteen when it was awarded to him, making him the second youngest Victoria cross recipient ever.

Early life

Kinross was born on 17 February 1896 at Dews Farm,

Harefield, Middlesex Harefield is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, England, northwest of Charing Cross near Greater London's boundary with Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the north. The population at the 2011 Census was 7,399. Har ...

. His father's family originated in

Perthshire Perthshire (Scottish English, locally: ; ), officially the County of Perth, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross, Strathmore ...

. He moved to

Lougheed, Alberta Lougheed is a village in central Alberta, Canada. It is 94 km south-east of Camrose, along Highway 13. The village was named after Sir James Lougheed, an Alberta senator from 1889 to 1925. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population c ...

with his parents and siblings in 1912.

Military career

Kinross volunteered in Calgary, Alberta, on 21 October 1915, as a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

in the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion,

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

. On 30 October 1917, at the

Battle of Passchendaele The Third Battle of Ypres (; ; ), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele ( ), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies of World War I, Allies against the German Empire. The battle took place on the Western Front (World Wa ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Kinross performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Kinross was wounded in the arm and head in 1917 and hospitalised in

Orpington Orpington is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross. On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St Mary Cray, sou ...

, England. He was subsequently presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V in March 1918. Kinross 2

Later life

Kinross returned to Alberta after the war and was given a plot of land in Lougheed. He never married and died at the Lougheed Hotel in on 21 June 1957. He is buried in the Soldier's Plot in Lougheed.

Legacy

Mount Kinross, 2560m, 24 km NW of Jasper, Alberta, in the

Victoria Cross Ranges __NOTOC__ The Victoria Cross Ranges ( to ) are a set of mountain ranges in the Canadian Rockies, located to the northwest of Jasper. Of the 19 peaks contained within this range, five are named after Canadian recipients of the Victoria Cross ...

in Jasper National Park, was named after him in 1951. His Victoria Cross medal is held by his family while the miniature is on display at The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum in

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

Cecil John Kinross' digitized service file

Hillingdon Council memorial plaque to Cecil Kinross, VC

Cecil John Kinross biography
on DND's Directory of Heritage and History bio *
Canadian Great War Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinross, Cecil John 1896 births 1957 deaths People from Harefield Canadian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross English emigrants to Canada Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Canadian military personnel of World War I Military personnel from the London Borough of Hillingdon Loyal Edmonton Regiment soldiers