Cecil John Kinross VC

was not born in Stirling, but at Dews Farm, Harefield, Near Uxbridge, Middlesex - this seems a common mistake that is perpetuated in several books. It appears that this error is because Mr. Kinross referred to Stirling as his birthplace on his enlistment papers. (Ref his birth certificate was registered on 7 Mar 1896 , no G012218 at Uxbridge).

Here is his immediate family tree.

1. James Stirling Kinrosg b. 8 Dec 1864, Gannochan Farm, Ardoch, Perth, Scotland,11 Death certificate 54-09-006849. I.G.I. E0546 Perth, August 1984. "Some account of the family of Kinross" by John Kinross, Feltham, 18 Mar 1934. 1881 Census, Gannochan, Ardoch, vol 328-B, dist 1, page 1, aged 16. (son of John KinJohn and Elisabeth Graham Stiraham) occp./titl: Cowboy in Texas,

m. 30 Sep 1891, in Kingsbury, Warwickshire, St Catherine's marriage index, Tamworth, Jul-Sep 1891.
Emily Hull, b. Apr-Sep 1870, Hurley, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, England,33 (daughter of John Hull and Mary Staf) d. 1920, Lougheed, Alberta, Canada.

James died 28 Jun 1954, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
buried: 2 Jul 1954, Fairview Cemetery, Prince Rupert, BC.

Cowboy in Texas.

Returned to Flanders Farm, Hurley when in 1888 when his brother moved from there to Mount Farm. Recorded in the 1881 Census at Gannochan Farm as a farmer's son, aged 16. Recorded in the 1891 Census as single, 26, farmer, living at 32 Flanders Hall, Tamworth with his sister Isabella, single, 28 living on her own means. Moved to 4 farms near Harefield in Middlesex in 1891. Lived at Dews Farm, Harefield in 1894 & 1896. Of The Hollies Farm, Lea Marston from 1904 to 1911. Parish Councillor in Lea Marston. The Hollies was rented from Lord Norton and the Norton papers include the rent book for 1907: "Kinross James S Farm and gardens, half-yearly rent ending Michaelmas 1907 £155.4.6 paid in cash." Moved to a farm at Alberta, Canada with his family in 1912. He became a Justice of the Peace there. He retired from 50 years of farming in 1937. He died as a result of falling out of bed at the Prince Rupert General Hospital on 22 Jun 1954.

"J.S.Kinross dies aged 89. James Stirling Kinross, 622 Third Avenue West died last night in Prince Rupert General Hospital at the age of 89. Mr Kinross was born at Gannochan, Scotland and came to this country 43 years ago to farm for many years at Lougheed, Alberta. He was a widower and for the past five years has been living in Prince Rupert at the home of his daughter, Mrs Nancy Kennedy. Also surviving are a son Cecil Kinross, VC of Lougheed, Alta., a daughter Mrs Ellie Kelman of Ganges, BC, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren." Canadian newspaper obituary.

Emily: Also spelt Emilie. Recorded in the 1881 census at Hurley, Kingsbury as a scholar, aged 10.

Children:

2. i Mary Kinross b. Oct-Dec 1892, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, Gravestone Inscription at St.Peter & St.Paul's Churchyard, Kingsbury, Warks. Uxbridge Parish Records, Birth Index, Oct-Dec 1892, vol 3a, page 39. baptised: 24 Dec 1893, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, England d. 26 Aug 1896, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, England,99 Gravestone Inscription at St.Peter & St.Paul's Churchyard, Kingsbury, Warks. buried: 29 Aug 1896, St.Peter & St.Paul's Ch., Kingsbury.110 Church record book at Warwick County Record Office. Died of poisoning from eating an unripe fruit. The family were visiting Warwickshire when Mary died.

3. ii Elizabeth Stirling Kinrosg (1.James1) b. 19 Nov 1894, Dews Farm, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middsx. m. 11 Oct 1919, in Lougheed, Alberta, Canada, George Arthur Edward Keward, b. 28 Dec 1886, 15 Bolsover Street, Marylebone, Middsx., d. 21 Feb 1937, Fernie, British Columbia, Canada.8 Elizabeth died 4 Sep 1986, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Known as Ellie. She went to Hurley School, the Girls School on 1 May 1905 at Lea Marston and later to Coleshill Grammer School. Of Ganges, BC, Canada in 1954. Photographed with her cousin James Kinross, and her brother Cecil VC and her sister Nancy at Manor Farm, Eton Wick in 1956. Moved to Victoria with her sister for retirement and later to the Vancouver area.

4. iii Cecil John Kinross b. 17 Feb 1896, Dews Farm, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middsx.,111 Birth Certificate registered on 7 Mar 1896 by E J Brown, Registrar in the District of Uxbridge, Middlesex. Father: James Stirling Kinross, farmer; mother: Emilie Hull of Dews Farm, Harefield, Middlesex. occp./titl: V.C., d. 21 Jun 1957, Lougheed, Alberta, Canada

Canadian Expeditionary Force Archives, Ottawa, 15 Nov 1978. 437793, Private Cecil John Kinross.2 buried: 25 Jun 1957, Lougheed Cemetery, Alberta, Canada. He went to Hurley School and then to Lea Marston Boys School on 8 May 1905. He then went to Coleshill Grammer School. The records in the Canadian Expeditionary Force Archives, Ottawa, 15 Nov 1978, for 437793, Private Cecil John Kinross state ... Enlisted with the 51st Battalion at Calgary, Alta, on 21 Oct 1915, and embarked for Britain on 18 Dec 1915 aboard S.S. Missanabie. Posted to the 9th Reserve Battalion on 28 Dec 1915. Proceeded to France for service with the 49th Battalion, C.E.F. on 6 Mar 1916. Wounded in action on 8 Oct 1916 and admitted to hospital with shrapnel wounds to his right arm and side. He rejoined his unit in the field on 23 May 1916. He was wounded in action again on 29 Oct 1917 with a shell wound to his left arm and head, hospitalized and invalided back to Britain. On 15 Feb 1918 he was posted to the 21st Reserve Battalion, and he sailed for Canada on 20 Jan 1919. He was honourably discharged on 17 Feb 1919.His Service Awards were the Victoria Cross, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.He was awarded the V.C. at Passchendaele on 30 Oct 1917. His citation from London Gazette on 11 Jan 1918 reads... "No. 437793 Pte. Cecil John Kinross, Can. Inf.For the most conspicuous bravery in action during prolonged and severe operations.Shortly after the attack (on Passchendaele Ridge) was launched, the company to which he belonged came under intense artillery fire, and further advance was held up by very severe fire from an enemy machine gun. Pte. Kinross, making a careful survey of the situation, deliberately divested himself of all his equipment save his rifle and bandolier and, regardless of his personal safety, advanced alone over the open ground in broad daylight, charged the enemy machine gun, killing the crew of six, and seized and destroyed the gun. His superb example and courage instilled the greatest confidence in his company, and enabled a further advance of 300 yards to be made and a highly important position to be established.Throughout the day he showed marvellous coolness and courage, fighting with the utmost aggressiveness against heavy odds until seriously wounded". After the war he returned to farming in Lougheed, Alberta. He was given 160 acres there by the Canadian government which is now owned by an Allan Price.Mount Kinross, 2560m, 24km NW of Jasper, Alberta was named after him in 1951. A special plaque has been erected at the Cecil Kinross VC Legion Branch in Lougheed, Alberta, Canada to commemorate his life there. It was dedicated in August 1995.

5. iv James Hector Kinross b. Jan-Mar 1900, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England,113 Gravestone Inscription at St.Peter & St.Paul's Churchyard, Kingsbury, Warks. Uxbridge Parish Records, Birth Index, Jan-Mar 1900, vol 3a, page 44. Died aged 10.3 d. 22 Mar 1910, The Hollies Farm,114 Gravestone Inscription at St.Peter & St.Paul's Churchyard, Kingsbury, Warks. Died of diabetes.4 buried: 25 Mar 1910, St John's Churchyard, Lea Marston, Warks.115 Gravestone at St John the Baptist Churchyard, Lea Marston, Warwickshire. Known as Mac. Died young of diabetes whilst at The Boys School at Marston, Warwickshire with his brother Cecil. He had been offered a place at King Edward VI Grammer School in Birmingham.

6. v Isabella Annie Kinross b. Oct-Dec 1903, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England,116 Letter from Charles Rolfe, Canadian Naval Air Group, Canada, 25 Aug 1995. Letter from Greg Ward of Lea Marston, 5 Feb 1998. Uxbridge Parish Records, Birth Index, Oct-Dec 1903, vol 3a, page 43.6 baptised: 25 Dec 1904, Kingsbury, Warwickshire,117 m. _____ Ken____. Isabella died Abt 1984, Vancouver, Canada. Known as Nancy. Moved to Victoria with her sister for retirement and later to the Vancouver area. Photographed with her cousin James Kinross, and her brother Cecil VC and her sister Ellie at Manor Farm, Eton Wick in 1956. Her father James lived with her at Prince Rupert for the last 5 years of his life. Recorded in the Prince Rupert Archives as Kennedy Mrs Nancy, 622 3rd Avenue West, Box 391. Kennedy Diane E sec Northern BC Power r 6, 622 3rd Avenue West, Box 391 is also recorded at the same address.

Family Information contributed by Alastair Kinross
<kinross@cheerful.com>

 

Mr. Cecil John Kinross died alone in the Old Lougheed Hotel
on June 21, 1957 at the age of 62 years.

Mr. Kinross was buried on June 25, 1957 at the Lougheed Cemetery.