Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby
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| Born | 3 February 1885 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire |
| Died | 25 September 1915 (aged 30) near Cuinchy, France |
| Buried |
Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1905 - 1915 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | The South Staffordshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Cross |
Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby (born 3 February 1885 – died 25 September 1915) was a brave English officer in the British Army. He fought during the First World War and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in the British military.
Early Life
Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby was born on 3 February 1885 in Cheltenham, England. He was the only son of Sandford and Alice F. Kilby. Arthur went to school at Bilton Grange and later at Winchester College. After finishing school, he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1905. This is where future officers are trained. After his training, he joined the South Staffordshire Regiment as an officer.
Military Hero
Arthur Kilby became a Captain on 1 April 1910, when he was just 25 years old. He was very good at languages and could speak Hungarian and German fluently. When the First World War began in August 1914, he was even learning Spanish!
Captain Kilby was sent to France with the 2nd Battalion of The South Staffordshire Regiment. He fought on the Western Front during the war.
On 25 September 1915, Captain Kilby was 30 years old. He was leading his soldiers in an attack near Cuinchy, France, during the Battle of Loos. He showed incredible bravery and courage during this attack. Sadly, he died during the battle. Because of his extreme heroism, he was given the Victoria Cross after his death on 30 March 1916. This is called a posthumous award, meaning it was given after he had passed away.
A Lasting Memory
Even the German soldiers who fought against Captain Kilby recognized his bravery. They built a memorial cross where he died to honor him. His body was found much later, on 19 February 1929. He was then buried at Arras Road Cemetery in Roclincourt, France.
In 1919, a special memorial was placed in St Nicholas's Chapel at York Minster. It had details about Captain Kilby's brave actions and awards. It also included a statue of him. His name is also listed on a war memorial at St Cuthbert's Church in York.
In 2012, Captain Kilby's Victoria Cross medal was sold at an auction in London. It was bought by Lord Ashcroft for £276,000. Today, Captain Kilby's medal is part of the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. You can see it at the Imperial War Museum in London, which is a famous museum about wars and conflicts.
