Captain Frederick Sidney Thirsk MC
Frederick Thirsk was a Private with the 5th City of London Battalion which were part of the new Territorial Army.
At the outbreak of war he applied for a commission and on 25 November 1914 he was appointed a Second Lieutenant with the 6th Essex Regiment who were to fight in Gallipoli and Egypt.
At some stage during the war Thirk transferred to the 9th Essex Battalion in the Western Front.
He is recorded as holing the rank of Captain when he appears in the wounded list on 18 October 1919.
On 1 February 1919 he was awarded the Military Cross with the below entry in the London Gazette.
Captain Thirsk belonged to the 6th Essex but was attached to the 9th Essex on 8th August 1918 near Morlancourt. He led his company with great dash to its objective and as troops on his right had been held up and his flank was in the air, his company suffered many casualties. Nevertheless he maintained his position and by his fire assisted the battalion on the right to gain their objective.
On 10 August 1918 in command of three companies he again displayed great courage and ability in dealing with the situation and drove the enemy out of his advanced positions.
Further honours came on 20 March 1920 when Captain Thirsk attended Buckingham Palace where he was presented with a bar to his MC by the King.
