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Without Sleep for Five Days


DLI Officer’s Endurance and Disregard for Danger


The “London Gazette” of Tuesday contains a lengthy list of rewards to officers and warrant officers of the army in recognition of their gallantry in the field. Several officers of distinguished Northern regiments figure on the list, one of whom, Captain Kirkup, of the DLI, has been given a bar to the DSO to which decoration he had been gazetted only a few weeks ago.

Captain (Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Philip Kirkup, DSO, MC, Durham Light Infantry.

On the night before a battle opened this officer was sent to the Field Ambulance with a temperature of 103 degrees, but on hearing the barrage he left and attempted to rejoin his unit, which was impossible, so he collected all the men he could and organised a defensive position, which he held on to as long as possible. During the next two days he several times assisted in rallying men and holding up the enemy advance, and when ammunition had almost run out, he rode back and brought up small arms ammunition, rising practically into the front line with it. Throughout the whole period he did much to organise stragglers and keep them in the fighting line, being without sleep, and having little food for five days.

Date: 26-Sep-1918

Author: Stanley News

Reference: D/WP 4/42 (Microfilm M61/42)

Where to find this: Durham County Record Office

Contributed by Durham County Record Office

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