Oct 19, 1892

Born in Riverdale, Queens County, Nova Scotia to Rev. Joseph Howe and Laura (nee Christie) Kirk

May 23, 1915

Admitted to the Niagara Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Grippe (influenza type symptoms)

Jun 18, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 31, 1915

Attested into the 35^th Battalion at the Niagara Camp, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario 

Ø      Number 405062

o       He was initially attested under the number 404562, which was the number under which he sailed to England with.  After his arrival in England, many of the 35^th Battalion men had their numbers changed, and his was one of them

Ø      Next of kin given as Joseph H. Kirk, father, East River, St. Mary’s, Nova Scotia

Ø      Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

Oct 15, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

Oct 25, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and the battalion proceeded to the Bramshott Camp to continue training.  While in England the battalion was renamed the 35^th Reserve Battalion

Apr 1, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 2, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion. 

Apr 18, 1916

Left the CBD as part of a draft of 569 reinforcements to join the battalions at the front

Apr 20, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the front lines near Voormezeele, Belgium, in the Ypres Salient, where he was assigned to “A” Company

Jun 9, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Scabies.  He was discharged to duty the same day.

Jul 18, 1916

Private Kirk received a bullet wound that penetrated the small of his back and upper left buttock and was taken first to a Field Ambulance for first aid, then transferred to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where he died of his wounds.  He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south of Poperinghe, Belgium

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), and Scroll were sent to his father, Joseph Kirk, at East River, St. Mary’s, Nova Scotia 

The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Laura Kirk at the same address. 

In his memory, there is an Oscar Howe Kirk Memorial Bursary offered at the Atlantic School of Theology “to provide bursary assistance for students enrolled as candidates for the United Church ministry.”