Gerald Birks
Encyclopedia
Gerald Alfred Sigourney Birks, MC and Two Bars
, RFC
(October 30, 1894 – May 26, 1991) was a Canadian fighter ace in World War I
. He assisted in the founding of Khaki University
during World War I
and Sons), he was descended from Yorkshire
landed gentry. He was educated at Montreal High School and McGill University
.
on 31 August 1915. He was wounded on the Somme
in 1916.
After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps
, he soloed during pilot's training with only 2 1/2 hours stick time. Nevertheless, he had the considerable experience of 138 hours in his pilot's logbook when he shipped out to join 66 Squadron and its Sopwith Camel
s in Italy. He was assigned to C Flight, and became a favored wingman of famed fellow Canadian ace Billy Barker
.
Birks' first aerial victory came on 18 March 1918, when he destroyed a Rumpler
reconnaissance plane over Pravisdomini
, killing an Austro-Hungarian named Shneeberger. Six days later, he set another recce machine afire, killing the crew of Poelzi and Suski.
His third victory would not come until 2 May 1918, when he wounded Leutnant K. Kosiuski and drove him into a crashlanding that destroyed his Albatros D.V
. Two days later, Birks shot down and killed ace Karl Patzelt
, as well as F. Frisch. In addition to killing both Austro-Hungarian pilots, he destroyed both their Albatros D.Vs; they were credited as "captured" because they fell within Italian lines.
The new ace flamed another D.V a week later, on 11 May. He destroyed two Berg
fighters in five minutes on a morning patrol on 19 May. The following day, he ruined another. On 24 May 1918, while flying wing with the redoubtable Barker, Birks was credited with shooting down Hungarian ace Lt. József Kiss
, CO of Flik 55j; Birks thus became a double ace.
On 9 June 1918, Birks set another Albatros D.V afire in midair. On the 21st, he capped his list of triumphs by destroying another D.V over Motta
. Most unusually for a British pilot, he had no "soft" victories, such as "driven down out of control".
For his deadly courage, Birks was awarded both the Military Cross and a bar in lieu of a second award; both were gazetted on 16 September 1916.
For the Military Cross, his citation read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes, two
of which fell on our side of the lines."
For the Bar to the Military Cross, the official text read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty in destroying four enemy aeroplanes,
two of which were destroyed in one fight."
Birks was placed on the RAF's unemployed list on 13 March 1919.
to write a report which recommended the formalization of educational services of Canadian forces overseas, known as Khaki University
.
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, RFC
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(October 30, 1894 – May 26, 1991) was a Canadian fighter ace in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He assisted in the founding of Khaki University
Khaki University
Khaki University was a Canadian educational institution set up and managed by the general staff of the Canadian Army in Britain 1917-19 during the First World War and again 1945-46 in the Second.-History:-Founders:...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Education
A son of William Birks, the owner of the Canadian Jewellers (Henry BirksHenry Birks
Henry Birks was a Canadian businessman and founder of Henry Birks and Sons, a chain of high-end Canadian jewellery stores....
and Sons), he was descended from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
landed gentry. He was educated at Montreal High School and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
World War I
He originally enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
on 31 August 1915. He was wounded on the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
in 1916.
After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, he soloed during pilot's training with only 2 1/2 hours stick time. Nevertheless, he had the considerable experience of 138 hours in his pilot's logbook when he shipped out to join 66 Squadron and its Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s in Italy. He was assigned to C Flight, and became a favored wingman of famed fellow Canadian ace Billy Barker
William George Barker
William George Barker VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars was a Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient...
.
Birks' first aerial victory came on 18 March 1918, when he destroyed a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
reconnaissance plane over Pravisdomini
Pravisdomini
Pravisdomini is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km west of Trieste and about 15 km south of Pordenone....
, killing an Austro-Hungarian named Shneeberger. Six days later, he set another recce machine afire, killing the crew of Poelzi and Suski.
His third victory would not come until 2 May 1918, when he wounded Leutnant K. Kosiuski and drove him into a crashlanding that destroyed his Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
. Two days later, Birks shot down and killed ace Karl Patzelt
Karl Patzelt
Oberleutnant Karl Patzelt was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:...
, as well as F. Frisch. In addition to killing both Austro-Hungarian pilots, he destroyed both their Albatros D.Vs; they were credited as "captured" because they fell within Italian lines.
The new ace flamed another D.V a week later, on 11 May. He destroyed two Berg
Berg
Berg is the word for mountain in various Germanic languages, and may also refer to:-People:* Alban Berg , Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School.* Paul Berg Berg is the word for mountain in various Germanic languages, and may also refer to:-People:* Alban Berg (1885-1935), Austrian...
fighters in five minutes on a morning patrol on 19 May. The following day, he ruined another. On 24 May 1918, while flying wing with the redoubtable Barker, Birks was credited with shooting down Hungarian ace Lt. József Kiss
József Kiss
Lieutenant József Kiss was a World War I flying ace for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was credited with 19 aerial victories. He was the most successful Hungarian ace in the war....
, CO of Flik 55j; Birks thus became a double ace.
On 9 June 1918, Birks set another Albatros D.V afire in midair. On the 21st, he capped his list of triumphs by destroying another D.V over Motta
Motta
Motta is a small town in Val Poschiavo, Grisons, Switzerland. It is located on the south side of Lago di Poschiavo....
. Most unusually for a British pilot, he had no "soft" victories, such as "driven down out of control".
For his deadly courage, Birks was awarded both the Military Cross and a bar in lieu of a second award; both were gazetted on 16 September 1916.
For the Military Cross, his citation read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes, two
of which fell on our side of the lines."
For the Bar to the Military Cross, the official text read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty in destroying four enemy aeroplanes,
two of which were destroyed in one fight."
Birks was placed on the RAF's unemployed list on 13 March 1919.
World War II
Colonel Birks, as supervisor of the YMCA Canadian Overseas, sought to offer educational courses to keep soldiers busy in their spare time with a view to stave off the evils of gambling or drinking. He asked Henry Marshall ToryHenry Marshall Tory
Henry Marshall Tory was the first president of the University of Alberta , the first president of the Khaki University, the first president of the National Research Council and the first president of Carleton College...
to write a report which recommended the formalization of educational services of Canadian forces overseas, known as Khaki University
Khaki University
Khaki University was a Canadian educational institution set up and managed by the general staff of the Canadian Army in Britain 1917-19 during the First World War and again 1945-46 in the Second.-History:-Founders:...
.
Post World War II
After the war, he became a patron of the arts, and was an active painter until his death. He died in 1991 in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.