大象传媒

Submitted by David Kirk (son)

My father rarely spoke of his army service and war time experiences and only recently (some years after his death) have I been able to piece together some information.

Dad enlisted in the Regular Army in 1935 for 3 years. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in 1938 and was recalled in 1939. He served as part of the BEF in France between Sept 1939 and May 1940 and was evacuated from Dunkirk. As best I can understand, his regiment was based in the UK between 1940 and 1942 re-equipping and training on new guns as they had lost all their artillery in France.

In May 1942 he was sent to India and finished his war service in Burma in 1945.

...............

Sadly Dad died in 1987. My Mum, Wyn Kirk, died in 2005 and amongst her possessions I found a letter written by Albert Cotton (an old comrade of my Dad) on hearing of his death.

I quote part of the letter:

鈥淚 first knew Cyril when he joined us, we were in the same troop in the 1st Medium Regt, roughly 7 long years we soldiered together. We fought the Germans in Belgium and France, came back out of Dunkirk, then later went out to India and eventually Burma.

But I want to speak about Cyril the man as I knew him, a first class No 1 gun Sergeant, a man of principle and the highest integrity, firm but friendly, a man who wouldn鈥檛 ask his gunners to do something he couldn鈥檛 do himself and his gun team were superb.

When we were in action and the conditions were really horrible (and there were lots of times like that Wyn, in Burma.) he could always be relied on to get his gun into action and start firing.

In moments of relaxation, even when we were soaking wet in the monsoon rains I can still recall his hearty laugh.

Well Wyn, I feel privileged and very proud to have known 鈥榦ld soldier鈥� Cyril Kirk.鈥�

...............

I am not sure if Albert Cotton is on the photograph.

See other contributions re Cyril Kirk listed on David Kirk personal page.

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