Understand
Victoria Cross awarded to WW1 hero James Kirk sells for £130,000
Overview
A Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to Second Lieutenant James Kirk from Cheadle Hulme, who was killed in France during the final week of World War One, has been sold at auction by London auctioneers Noonans for £130,000.
Key points
- Second Lieutenant James Kirk was killed on 4 November 1918 during the Battle of Sambre while protecting Royal Engineers building a bridge over the Oise Canal.
- The 21-year-old paddled across a canal on a raft under intense machine-gun fire and fired on German positions before being killed.
- The Victoria Cross and three other war service medals were sold by London auctioneers Noonans on 7 October.
- The medal collection had been expected to fetch between £100,000 and £160,000 and has now joined a new collection of British Gallantry awards.