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Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. 1895-1929

Photos by contributor Andrew Jones - Posted December, 2017

 

Plaque Location

The County of Hastings
The Town of Deseronto
On the waterfront on Main Street
between College Street and Pearl Street

Coordinates: N 44 11.503 W 77 03.320

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Plaque Text

Born at Deseronto, Kerr attended schools here and in Toronto. With the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted on September 22, 1914 with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and arrived in France the following February. He won the Military Medal at Mount Sorrel on June 13, 1916, the Military Cross at Amiens on August 18, 1918, and a Bar to the latter award at Queant later that summer. The Victoria Cross, the British Empires highest decoration for valour, was awarded to Kerr for his exemplary daring and leadership at Bourlon Wood on September 27, 1918. He outflanked a machine-gun position and later, far in advance of his troops, he rushed a strong point and, single handed, captured four machine-guns and thirty-one prisoners.

Another plaque at this location
The Founding of Deseronto

More
Information

More
Victoria Cross

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Deseronto Plaques

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted July 21, 2012
This plaque is one in a series honouring Ontario recipients of the British Victoria Cross, following a policy of the Ontario Heritage Foundation. In colonial times - which for Canada stretched too far into the 20th century - our greatest achievements for valour depended on foreign recognition. In the 1970s, a national honours system was devised which eliminated this British medal. Its replacement, however, failed to create a unique award, reverting to the name "Victoria Cross" ("Canada Cross" had been contemplated), and using essentially the same design as the British medal. So much for this symbol reflecting our proud independence! It's a shame to see such a lack of imagination. Worse, it harkens back to a 19th century colony whose only value was in how it could serve the needs of an overseas motherland. We've come so far, but symbols such as this haven't caught up...yet. -Wayne

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