Mount Kinross

Mount Kinross of the Victoria Cross Ranges in the Jasper National Park was named after Cecil John Kinross in 1951. Cecil John Kinross was born in Uxbridge, England on 17 February 1895, and, at the age of 16, came with his family to Alberta to farm. During the First World War, he served with the 49th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Before Kinross received the Victoria Cross he had been wounded but was able to return to his unit within a month.

On 30 October 1917 near Passchendaele in Belgium, Kinross’s company came under intense German artillery and machine gunfire. Carefully surveying the situation, he took off all of his equipment save for his rifle and a bandolier of ammunition and set out alone over open ground in daylight. Kinross then charged the machine gun, killed the crew of six, and destroyed the gun. Inspired by his action, his company advanced some 300 meters and established itself in an important new position. For his exemplary conduct, Kinross was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Kinross was seriously wounded and did not return to front-line duties. He died in Lougheed, Alberta on 21 June 1957.