Philip Kirkup

Philip Kirkup OBE, DSO, MC, TD, DL was a General of the British Army during World War II.

History
Phillip Kirkup was a Brigadier General of the British Army who participated in the Battle of France as part of the 70th Infantry Brigade later being the commanding officer of the same brigade during the Occupation of Iceland. When Philip joined college he join the Marlborough College Cadet Contingent. During his time he went on to join the Junior Division and later Officers' Training Corps. Upon leaving school he was commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry as a Territorial Officer as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion on November 18 1912. In May of 1914 he was promoted to Lieutenant. Following the outbreak of World War I he was one of the first territorials to volunteer to serve in France. He along with the 8th Battalion were attached to the 151st (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division moved to France where they took part in the Second Battle of Ypres. In June of the next year he was appointed as Temporary Captain participating in the Battle of the Somme wining the Military Cross. Later through the war he fought at both at the Battle of Arras and Battle of Passchendaele and again at the Battle of the Somme and Battle of Lys. In September of 1918 he was awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and later promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel of the same battalion but later 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion, The Border Regiment. While serving with the 7th Battalion of the Border Regiment he gained his first Mentioned in Dispatches.

Following the end of the war he was awarded the Territorial Decoration and later temporary captain of the territorials. In June of 1925 he married his wife and had a son and three daughters. Due to the end of the war he became a mining engineer which he stayed with until August of 1939. As part of the New Year's Honours of 1938 he was awarded the OBE or (Officer of the British Empire).

Following the British and French declaration of war on Germany he was called back into service and was immediately posted as Brigadier General Commanding, 70th Infantry Brigade. When his brigade moved to France he participated in the Dunkirk evacuation where he gained his second Mentioned in Dispatches. One year later after the Occupation of Iceland he commanded the now 70th Brigade there and became Acting Force General, Iceland when General Curtis was on leave in England. On 24 July 1942 he relinquished command and was appointed the civil title of Deputy Lieutenant of Durham. After that he was later appointed as honourary brigadier and served during the North African Campaign.

While serving in North Africa he was, for the third time, Mentioned in Dispatches before finally returning home in 1943. He was then given an appointment in the Ministry of Fuel and Power. Later he was declared a supernumerary to establishment as colonel so mas made a honourary brigadier general in April 1945. He finally retired from the army officially in September 1950, retaining the rank of honourary brigadier general.

From July of 1951 to June of 1956 he was honourary colonel of the 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry then known as Brigadier General Philip Kirkup, DSO, OBE, MC, TD, DL. He later died on 9 June 1959 in Chester-le-Street Hospital.

Appointments
Philip had the following appointments:
 * September 1918 - ???? - Lieutenant Colonel in Command of 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantyr
 * ???? - ???? - Lieutenant Colonel in Command of 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion, The Border Regiment
 * 25 August 1939 - 27 June 1940 - Commanding Officer, 70th Infantry Brigade (in France)
 * 27 June 1940 - 16 September 1940 - Commanding Officer, 70th Independent Brigade
 * 16 September 1940 - 26 September 1941 - Commanding Officer, 70th Brigade (Iceland)
 * 22 October 1941 - 27 July 1942 - Commanding Officer, 70th Brigade (Iceland)
 * July 1951 - June 1956 - Honorary Colonel, 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry (Volunteers)

Awards
Philip had the following awards and medals: During his DSO (1st) his message read:During his DSO (2nd) his message read:
 * Order of the British Empire
 * Distinguished Service Order and Bar
 * Military Cross
 * Mentioned in Dispatches (x3)
 * 1914-15 Star
 * British War Medal
 * Victory Medal
 * Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
 * Coronation Medal 1937
 * 1939-45 Star
 * Africa Star
 * Defence Medal
 * War Medal
 * Coronation Medal 1953

Family
Philip had a father, mother, three diblings, a wife, and four children. The list of his family included:
 * Father - Philip Kirkup
 * Mother - Mary Ann Kirkup
 * Siblings - Ernest Hodgson (brother) and Constance Dora Kirkup (sister)
 * Wife - Kathleen Kirkup
 * Children - Brian Scott (Kirkup), Dorothy J (Kirkup), Annette Mary (Kirkup), Mavis B. Kirkup