John Kirk (July 1827 to 31^st August 1865)

As John died over 150 years ago there’s little known about him and cameras we extremely rare so there aren’t the usual six or seven photographs to find. His birth date isn’t known and his grave location was almost know for a while – to me anyway. I tramped around the sprawling Anfield Cemetery in fading light and had to brighten these photos. Eventually I found it, a smallish humble stone considering five other people lie under it. It was on its own, stood away from other headstones and obviously quite new (put there in 1989 - paid for by the Regimental Trustees and folk of Liverpool.)

John was approximately 29 years old and fighting in the 10th Regiment of Foot of the British Army during the Indian Mutiny. On 4th June 1857 he was soldiering in Benares, India. He volunteered with two non-commissioned officers to rescue Captain Brown (the Pension Paymaster) and his family who were at home but surrounded by rebels. Little is known about blood spilt, casualties or killings but the three men risk their lives to be rid of the troops and saved the family.

Queen Victoria presented John with the Victoria Cross at Windsor Castle in Berkshire on 9^th November 1860.

Fate is a cold cutting blade - for all his soldering efforts John died at work of tuberculosis in the Liverpool Workhouse aged 38.

Not many people get a Victoria Cros…