Frederick Birks

Victoria Cross citation

Second Lieutenant Frederick Birks

Australian Imperial Force

For most conspicuous bravery in attack when accompanied only by a corporal, he rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2nd Lieutenant Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organized a small party and attacked another strong point, which was occupied by about twenty-five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and 'fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganizing parties of other units which had been disorganized during 'the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2nd Lieutenant Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell.

[1918 'Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation', Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National: 1901-1973), 25 July, p. 1587, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232461968.]