Frank Howard Kirby

What would make a soldier turn his horse around and ride straight back into enemy gunfire when everyone else was fighting to escape? On 2 June 1900, Corporal Frank Howard Kirby made that extraordinary choice, risking his life to rescue a stranded comrade during the Second Boer War. His courage earned him the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military award for gallantry, and began a remarkable journey that would take him from the Royal Engineers to the senior ranks of the Royal Air Force.

Born at Thame, Oxfordshire, on 12 November 1871, Kirby was the son of William Henry Kirby, an ironmonger, and his wife Ada. He attended Alleyn's School in Dulwich, then worked for his father's business. He joined the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars in January 1889 and enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 8 August 1892, transferring to the mounted engineers in 1893.

Deployed to South Africa in November 1899, Kirby took part in railway demolition near Bloemfontein in March 1900, an action recognised with the Distinguished Conduct Medal. On 2 June, serving with No. 1 Field Troop, 1st Division, Royal Engineers, he joined an expedition to cut the Delagoa Bay Railway near Bronkhorstspruit. During the withdrawal, he rode back under close-range fire and carried a soldier whose horse had been shot to safety. His VC citation called this his third instance of gallantry in the enemy's presence. The London Gazette announced the award on 5 October 1900; the Duke of Cornwall and York presented it at Cape Town on 19 August 1901. His Queen's South Africa Medal carried seven clasps: Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901.

Promoted in the field to troop sergeant major, Kirby returned to Britain in December 1901. He became an instructor at Chatham and regimental sergeant major in 1906. He married Kate Jolly in 1909. Commissioned honorary lieutenant and quartermaster on 26 April 1911, he joined the Royal Engineers' Air Battalion and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1912, helping establish the Central Flying School as its stores officer.

From March 1916 to January 1917, Kirby served in France, including command of No. 3 Army Aircraft Park at Trevent. He subsequently commanded No. 1 Stores Depot at Kidbrooke and held senior stores and equipment appointments, including work at the Air Ministry. He continued in the Royal Air Force from its formation on 1 April 1918. His wartime service brought the British War Medal and Victory Medal, and appointment as OBE in 1919. A permanent commission as wing commander followed on 17 June 1920.

Advanced to military CBE in 1926, Kirby also held the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the 1911, 1937 and 1953 Coronation Medals, and the Defence Medal. His precise qualifying service for the latter remains undocumented. After commanding No. 4 Stores Depot, he retired on 8 December 1926 as a substantive wing commander with permission to retain group captain rank. He became managing director of Sika Ltd, a London waterproofing business, and died at Sidcup, Kent, on 8 July 1956, aged 84.

Official Victoria Cross citation The London Gazette, 5 October 1900, issue 27235, page 6126. Royal Engineers; Corporal F. Kirby.

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 troop 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.