140 Battery, 40 Lt. A.A. Regiment, Royal Field Artillery (British Army)
Died:
06/12/1942 (Unknown)
Age:
19
Summary
Joseph Kirk was the son of Samuel and Thomasena Kirk. He was born about 1923. Gunner Joseph Kirk was serving with 140 Battery, 40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery. Gunner Joseph Kirk died on 6th December 1942 at El Alamein. His parents lived in Drumreany, Castlecaulfield.
Further Information
Joseph Kirk was the son of Samuel and Thomasena Kirk. Joseph Kirk was born about 1923.
Gunner Joseph Kirk was serving with 140 Battery, 40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
The 8th Army, which included the 40th L.A.A, were in the area around El Alamein in October 1942.
By 8th December 1942, the Division was once again in the front line, and 152 preparing to attack. The village of Mersa Brega was reported as having been developed by the enemy into a very strong position. It was a kind of bottleneck with high ground all round which dominated the whole area. No-man's-land was some 5000 yards in width and the enemy had sewn it with thousands of mines, both anti-tank and anti-personnel. Owing to the fact that forward landing-grounds were not yet complete, the Division had no fighter cover, so that German planes were more troublesome than usual. It's likely that 40 LAA Regt were forward to deal with the fighter threat and quite possibly attacked.
Gunner Joseph Kirk died on 6th December 1942.
Gunner Joseph Kirk is buried in Benghazi War Cemetery in Libya.
Gunner Joseph Kirk is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on Castlecaulfield Church of Ireland WWII Roll of Honour.
The CWGC record Gunner Joseph Kirk as the son of Samuel and Thomasena Kirk of Drumreany, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
