b. 08/06/1895 Deseronto, Ontario, Canada. d. 08/12/1929 Toronto, Canada.
George Fraser Kerr (1895-1929) was born in Deseronto, Ontario, on June 8th, 1894. He attended Galt Collegiate, and enlisted as a private with the 3rd Battalion, The Toronto Regiment, on September 22nd, 1914, arriving in France the following February.
George F Kerr
VC MC* MM
Now a corporal, Kerr was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Mont Sorrel on June 13th, 1916. After some time in hospital in England recovering from battle wounds, Kerr was appointed a Lieutenant and returned to his unit in July 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the Battle of Amiens on August 18th, 1918, and then a Bar to his Military Cross during the Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Line later that summer, this while recuperating from previous wounds.
By all accounts, Kerr should have been in sick bay on September 27th, 1918, nursing an injured arm, and not involved in the operations at Bourlon Wood. However, when his regiment was called to an attack, Kerr was there, leading his company into battle, when he encountered a German machine-gun nest blocking the advance.
On that day, he handled his company with great skill, and gave timely support by outflanking a machine-gun which was impeding the advance. Later, near the Arras-Cambrai Road, the advance was again held up by a strong point. Lt. Kerr, far in advance of his company, rushed this strong point single-handed and captured four machine-guns and thirty-one prisoners.
Kerr later rose to the rank of captain. George Kerr was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 22nd May 1919. After the war ended, he returned home and went into business in Toronto, all the while continuing with his service in the Militia. George Fraser Kerr died in a freak accident on December 8th, 1929, when he was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes while starting his car in his garage. He is buried at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario.
His medal group including VC, MC and Bar, MM, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19 were held by the Kerr family, until in October 2000, they donated them to the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM, OTTAWA, CANADA.
BURIAL PLACE: MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY, TORONTO, CANADA.
PLOT 14, SECTION 36, LOT – E 1/2.
