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CHIP KERR PARK
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Private John Chipman Kerr, VC
January 11, 1887 – February 19, 1963
1887 - Born in Fox River, Nova Scotia
1915 - From his homestead in Alberta, enlists in WWI and serves in the Canadian Expeditionary Force’s 49th Battalion
1916 - On September 16, he was chief bayonet man with the 49th Infantry Battalion near Courcelette, France, during the Battle of the Somme. Realizing the Canadians’ supply of bombs was low, Kerr valiantly got out of his trench and ran towards the enemy while exposed to heavy fire. He opened fire at point-blank range, inflicting heavy losses. This led the enemy to surrender as the Germans believed they were surrounded. Despite having part of his index finger blown off due to a bomb, Kerr managed to lead his group in capturing 62 prisoners and 250 yards of enemy trench.1
1917 - Receives the Victoria Cross on February 5 from King George V at Buckingham Palace for his courageous acts during the Battle of the Somme
1939 - Re-enlists in the Canadian Army at the start of WWII, transfers to the Royal Canadian Air Force, and is posted to Sea Island, British Columbia
1947 - Moves to Port Moody in 1947 and lives in this house on Clarke Street, built around 1908
1963 - Lives in Port Moody until his death in 1963. Mount Kerr in Jasper National Park, Alberta, is named after Kerr, as is Chip Kerr Park in Port Moody
The Victoria Cross Range is situated northwest of Jasper, Alberta. It is comprised of 19 peaks, of which five are named after Victoria Cross recipients. Mount Kerr and is 2560m high. Small stainless steel plaques have been mounted near the summit of the five mountains by the three branches of the military services.
Notes
1 Al Sholund, “The Year of the Veteran…A Tale of Two Soldiers”, City of Port Moody and Arthur Bishop, “Valour on the Somme: Part 5 of 18”, Legion Magazine, September 1, 2004
2 Personnel Records Centre, Department of Veterans Affairs
