Frederick Birks

Frederick Birks
Second Lieutenant Fredericks Birks VC, MM c.1916
Born	(1894-08-16)16 August 1894 Buckley, Flintshire, Wales
Died	21 September 1917(1917-09-21) (aged 23) Menin Road Ridge, Passchendaele salient, Belgium
Buried	Perth (China Wall) Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom Australia
Service/branch	British Army Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1910–1913 1914–1917
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	6th Battalion
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli campaign (WIA) Landing at Anzac Cove Battle of Krithia Western Front Battle of the Somme Battle of Pozières Battle of Passchendaele Battle of the Menin Road Ridge †
Awards	Victoria Cross Military Medal

Frederick Birks, VC, MM (16 August 1894 – 21 September 1917) was a Welsh-born Australian First World War soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces.

Born in Buckley, Flintshire, Birks served in the Royal Artillery for three years before emigrating to Australia in 1913. After serving as a non-commissioned officer during the landing at Gallipoli and the Battle of the Somme, Birks was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 4 May 1917. On 20 September, during the Battle of Passchendaele, while advancing in Glencorse Wood, Ypres, Birks, alongside a corporal, forced a garrison to surrender and captured sixteen men in another attack. His actions were later recognised with the Victoria Cross. The following day, Birks was killed by a shell while attempting to save some of his men.