Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of ten awarded to Major R. C. Kirkpatrick, Royal Garrison Artillery
Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Major R. C. Kirkpatrick.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1939, bronze, very fine (10) £500-£700

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in France and Flanders.’

French Croix de Guerre unconfirmed.

Robert Closeburn Kirkpatrick was born in Brussels on 31 July 1890, the son of William Parkinson Kirkpatrick and grandson of General James Cadogan Baillie. Returned to England at the outbreak of hostilities, he served in France from 9 March 1916 as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Promoted Captain in August 1916 and Major in May 1917, he later became Officer Commanding 61st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, and for his services during the Great War was awarded the Military Cross.

Returning home to Brussels at the end of the Great War Kirkpatrick practised as an engineer. He later married Miss Yvonne Liebrecht, the daughter of the Governor of Belgian Congo and together they raised three sons, one of whom, Pilot Officer James Charles Kirkpatrick, 235 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action piloting a Blenheim on 9 October 1940 in the vicinity of Thorney Island, West Sussex. Possibly spurred on by this loss, Kirkpatrick was reappointed Major in the Royal Artillery on 6 December 1940. He survived the Second World War and is believed to have returned home to Etterbeek in Belgium, where he took up his former civilian employment as an engineer. He died on 1 November 1970.

Sold with the recipient’s original named commission certificate, dated 19 January 1915; and a photograph of the recipient.