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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 832

A notable Great War trio and Memorial Plaque awarded to Captain A. G. Kirby, London Rifle Brigade; as Captain of the Leander eight at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Kirby led the British rowing team to a Gold Medal victory, only to die of sickness on the Western Front in 1917

1914 Star, erased naming; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. G. Kirby), Bronze Memorial Plaque (Alister Graham Kirby), in card case of issue, very fine (4)

Alister Graham Kirby was born at Brompton in London on 14 April 1886, son of the Lincoln's Inn Bencher Arthur Raymond Kirby and his South African wife Gertrude Fleming. Educated at Eton, he showed early prowess for rowing, becoming an Oxford Blue during his studies at Magdalen College. He rowed for Oxford in the 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909 Boat Races, but was only on the winning team in 1909, when he was President. That same year he was appointed President of Vincent's Club. Joining the Leander Club, he captained the Leander eight to victory in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, winning a Gold Medal for Great Britain. He was photographed with his victorious rowers.

Kirby served during the Great War as a Captain in the 5th Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). Wounded in November 1914, he died of sickness on 29 March 1917, aged 30. He was buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£210