Pte. William Kirk, Lincolnshire Regiment.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony", "Paardeberg" & "Johannesburg". (Ghost Dates)
2316 Pte. W. Kirk, Lincolnshire Regiment.

William Kirk was born in Upton, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire, around the year 1865. He first appears on the 1871 Census as a six year old scholar living in the Burgage, Southwell, with his father, John - a railway porter, and a younger brother, also called John. There is no record of his mother. By the time of the 1881 Census, William's family was living at King Street, Southwell, and both he and his father were working as ostlers and grooms. His father had married a woman called Eliza and the family had seen the addition of two daughters, Gertrude (3 yrs) and Frances (1 yr).

On 5th March 1889 at Gainsborough, William Kirk attested for the Lincolnshire Regiment, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. William was already serving in the Militia, as a volunteer in the 5th Battalion of the Derby Regiment. His Attestation Papers describe him as just over 5' 6" tall, weighing 144lbs and with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. Two days later, he joined the Regiment at the Depot in Lincoln. On 1st April 1889, he joined the 1st Battalion. He would stay with the 1st Lincolns for the next six years but see only home service. William was transferred to the Army Reserve in May 1894. The following year, the 1st Battalion would sail for Malta, eventually seeing service in Egypt and the Sudan. However, William Kirk would see his fair share of foreign service in due course.

Following the outbreak of war with the Boers in South Africa, William was recalled from the Reserve under the special army order of 16th December 1899 and posted to the 2nd Lincolns. On 4th January 1900, the Battalion sailed for South Africa on board the Goorkha, arriving at the Cape around the 25th. The Lincolns were part of the 14th Brigade, VIIth Division, and took part in the Battle of Paardeberg but were not otherwise heavily engaged. After the capture of Pretoria, the 14th Brigade was given the task of garrisoning the Boer capital and surrounding area. On 11th July, a large force of Boers attacked the post at Uitval's Nek and succeeded in capturing two guns, a squadron of Scots Greys and about 90 officers and men of the Lincolns.
William Kirk served two years and 64 days in South Africa, returning to England in March 1902.
On 29th September, William was transferred to Section D of the 1st Class Army Reserve. Four years later, he was discharged from all military obligations. His address on discharge was 2 St Leonard's Court, Kirkgate, Newark. William Kirk died of cardiac failure in Leicester on 29th January 1943 at the age of 78.