Kirchin, Albert Arthur MM

Albert was born at Biggleswade, Hertfordshire on 8 September 1892, the eldest son of Arthur and Harriet (nee Topham) Kirchin of Ashwell, Hertfordshire.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Albert enlisted at Guildford, Surrey in September 1914 and served as a Private, Regiment number 15003, in the Leicestershire Regiment and was promoted to Lance Corporal after June 1916.

He fought in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders and died of wounds on 27 September 1916.

Albert was awarded the Military Medal on 2 June 1916 for gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.  He was also awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L’Abbe, France and commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour and the Ashwell War Memorial.

Before enlisting was a domestic gardener living in Little Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden, Essex.

Military Medal

The military decoration was awarded to A A Kirchin for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire or for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

This Level 3 Gallantry Medal was established during the First World War on the 25th March 1916 and introduced in the London Gazette issue 29535, (back dated to 1914) to personnel of the British Army and other services, and personnel of Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank. It was the other ranks’ equivalent to the Military Cross (M.C.), (which was awarded to Commissioned Officers and, rarely, to Warrant Officers, who could also be awarded the M.M.).

Conferment of the medal was announced in the London Gazette and A A Kirchin earned the right to add the letters M.M. to his name.

1915 July Events from the pages of the Royston Crow   On their way to the front after training were Privates Jack Bonfield, Arthur Kirchin, Harry Covington, H Barton, H Oyston, F Clements, H Waldock, A Smith and E White. Also visiting was Private Arthur Crane who had een in Netley Hospital suffering from a bullet wound received on 19th April 1915.