CAPTAIN ALISTER GRAHAM KIRBY
LONDON REGIMENT (LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE)
29TH MARCH 1917 AGE 30
BURIED: MAZARGUES WAR CEMETERY, MARSEILLES, FRANCE
The Times 3 April 1917
An Oxford Rowing "Blue"
Captain Alister Graham Kirby, London Regiment (Staff Captain Divisional Artillery), who died in hospital abroad on March 29, while on active service, was one of the most famous oarsmen of the last decade. He was the younger son of the late A.R. Kirby and of Mrs Kirby of 81, Cromwell Road S.W.. and was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford. He secured a commission in the London Regiment in August 1914, and saw much active service. Captain Kirby started his rowing career at Eton ... [He went up to Magdalen in 1905] A stylish and powerful heavy-weight oarsman, there was never any doubt about his Blue and he rowed against Cambridge in each of the four years he was in residence. In the first three of his races, D.C.R. Stuart stroked Cambridge to Victory, but Captain Kirby had the satisfaction of winning his last race, and the unexpected victory of Oxford was largely due to the way in which he backed Bourne at stroke .... He was captain of the Leander Club in 1912, and the duty of selecting a representative eight for the Olympic Regatta at Stockholm devolved upon him. He rowed '7' in the crew, which at Henley lost the final of the Grand to Sydney (N.S.W.), but at Stockholm three weeks later turned the tables on the Australians and carried off the trophy for eight-oar rowing. A man of kindly and unassuming character he was very popular with a wide circle of rowing friends.
Alister Kirby's brother, Claude, a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy, chose his inscription. Although their mother was still alive theur father was dead. Captain Kirby died in hospital at Marseilles of an unspecified illness.