People Australia

Alec Mann Kirton, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

ALEC MANN KIRTON was born on 4th November, 1893, at Bunbury, Western Australia, the son of Mr. Richard Gervase Kirton and Mrs. M. A. Kirton. He was educated at the Bunbury Public School, and entered the service of the Bank at Perth, Western Australia, on 19th September, 1911. He was transferred to the Fremantle Branch as ledger-keeper on 22nd July, 1912.

Alec Mann Kirton enlisted on 17th August, 1914, and left Australia with the 11th Battalion of the A.I.F. As a boy he had taken a keen interest in military matters, reading any books he could get on military history and tactics. He joined the Cadet Force and was a lieutenant in the Senior Cadets before enlisting. He was present at the Landing on 25th April, 1915, at the Dardanelles, and served on the peninsula for some time. He was invalided to Egypt and was booked for a voyage to Australia, but not liking the idea of being out of service altogether, he obtained an appointment on the staff of the School of Instruction for Officers and N.C.O.’s in Egypt. According to a newspaper account he quickly showed exceptional ability, especially at musketry, and was promoted to sergeant-instructor —the only Australian engaged in that capacity at that time. A scheme for teaching a certain stage of musketry practice was invented by him, which imparted as much knowledge in half an hour as was taught by old methods in a day. One of the officers wrote enthusiastically of his inventive genius and of his patience as an instructor. It was intended to utilise his services as an instructor in England, but he died about 23rd February, 1916.