John Chipman Kerr

Private, 49th Battalion. Alberta Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Register No.: 688 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Private all Privates →
Unit: 49th Battalion. Alberta Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 4th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
Date of action: 16 September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 26th October, 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Born: 11th January 1887 at Fox River, Cumberland County, Nova
Died: 19th February, 1963 at Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

During a bombing attack on the 16th September 1916 at Courcelette, France, Private Kerr, acting as a bayonet man, noticed that they were running short of bombs. He ran along the parados under heavy fire until he was close to the enemy. He opened fire at point blank range inflicting heavy losses. Assuming that they were surrounded, 62 of the enemy surrendered as well as 250 yards of the enemy trench being captured. Earlier in the action, Private Kerr's fingers had been blown off, but didn't stop to have his wounds dressed until he and two others had escorted the prisoners back, still under heavy fire, before reporting for duty

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

KERR, John Chipman. (reg No. 688).

Private. 49th Battalion. Alberta Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

London Gazetted on 26th October, 1916.

Born on 11th January 1887 at Fox River, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Died on 19th February, 1963 at Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: During a bombing attack on the 16th September 1916 at Courcelette, France, Private Kerr, acting as a bayonet man, noticed that they were running short of bombs. He ran along the parados under heavy fire until he was close to the enemy. He opened fire at point blank range inflicting heavy losses. Assuming that they were surrounded, 62 of the enemy surrendered as well as 250 yards of the enemy trench being captured. Earlier in the action, Private Kerr's fingers had been blown off, but didn't stop to have his wounds dressed until he and two others had escorted the prisoners back, still under heavy fire, before reporting for duty.

Scotia, Canada.

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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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