Frederick Birks
Second Lieutenant, 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 91 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (register: 6th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 31st August 1894 at Buckley, Flintshire, Wales
- Died
- 21st September 1917 at Glencorse Wood, Ypres, Belgium
- Memorial / grave
- Perth Cemetery, Belgium, on an obelisk in Buckley, Flintshire, Wales and on the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Australian War Memorial, Canberra,
Digest of citation
On 20th September, 1917 at Glencorse Wood, east of Ypres, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Birks, accompanied by a corporal, rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded, but Second Lieutenant Birks went on alone, killed the remainder of the enemy and captured the machine gun. Shortly afterwards he took a small party and attacked another strong point occupied by a about 25 of the enemy, killing some and capturing an officer and 15 men. His coolness and bravery inspired his men throughout these operations. He was fatally wounded whilst trying to rescue some of his men who had been buried by a shell
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BIRKS, Frederick, (reg. No. 91)
Second Lieutenant 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 8th November 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Born on 31st August 1894 at Buckley, Flintshire, Wales.
Died on 21st September 1917 at Glencorse Wood, Ypres, Belgium. (killed in action)
Memorials at Perth Cemetery, Belgium, on an obelisk in Buckley, Flintshire, Wales and on the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 20th September, 1917 at Glencorse Wood, east of Ypres, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Birks, accompanied by a corporal, rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded, but Second Lieutenant Birks went on alone, killed the remainder of the enemy and captured the machine gun. Shortly afterwards he took a small party and attacked another strong point occupied by a about 25 of the enemy, killing some and capturing an officer and 15 men. His coolness and bravery inspired his men throughout these operations. He was fatally wounded whilst trying to rescue some of his men who had been buried by a shell.
Additional information: Lieutenant Birks also held the Military Medal .
Additional information
Lieutenant Birks also held the Military Medal .
Australia.
(killed in action)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Perth Cemetery, Belgium, on an obelisk in Buckley, Flintshire, Wales and on the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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