Deseronto in Hastings County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M.
1895 - 1929
Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 30, 2026
1. Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. Marker
Inscription.
Born at Deseronto, Kerr attended schools here and in Toronto. With the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted on September 22, 1914 with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and arrived in France the following February. He won the Military Medal at Mount Sorrel on June 13, 1916, the Military Cross at Amiens on August 18, 1918, and a Bar to the latter award at Queant later that summer. The Victoria Cross, the British Empire's highest decoration for valour was awarded to Kerr for his exemplary daring and leadership at Bourlon Wood on September 27, 1918. He outflanked a machine-gun position and later, far in advance of his troops, he rushed a strong point and, single handed, captured four machine-gune and thirty-one prisoners.,
Born at Deseronto, Kerr attended schools here and in
Toronto. With the outbreak of the First World War he
enlisted on September 22, 1914 with the 3rd Battalion,
Canadian Expeditionary Force, and arrived in France the
following February. He won the Military Medal at Mount
Sorrel on June 13, 1916, the Military Cross at Amiens on
August 18, 1918, and a Bar to the latter award at Queant
later that summer. The Victoria Cross, the British Empire's
highest decoration for valour was awarded to Kerr for his
exemplary daring and leadership at Bourlon Wood on September 27, 1918. He outflanked a machine-gun position and later,
far in advance of his troops, he rushed a strong point and,
single handed, captured four machine-gune and thirty-one
prisoners.
Né à Deseronto, George Kerr fréquente l'école dans son
village natal puis à Toronto. Après la déclaration de la
Premiere Guerre mondiale, il s'engage dans le 3 bataillon
du Corps expéditionnaire canadien le 22 septembre 1914
et arrive en France en février 1915. Il se merite la Medaille
militaire au Mont Sorrel le 13 juin 1916 et la Croix
militaire à Amiens le 18 aout 1918, à laquelle il ajoute une
barrette à Quéant à la fin de l'été 1918. La Croix de
Victoria, decoration la plus importante de l'Empire
britannique, lui est décernée pour son esprit d'initiative
et son courage exemplaires. En effet, le 27 septembre 1918,
au Bois Bourlon, il déborde une position de mitrailleuse
et, bien avant ses troupes, prend d'assaut un centre de
résistance, capturant à lui seul quatre mitrailleuses et
faisant trente-et-un prisonniers.
Location. 44° 11.5′ N, 77° 3.33′ W. Marker is in Deseronto, Ontario, in Hastings County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Pearl Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 163 Main Street, Deseronto ON K0K 1X0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario and specifically in Southeastern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the
Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 30, 2026
2. Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. Marker
3. Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. Marker
Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 30, 2026
4. Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. Marker
The marker on the right
5. Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., 1917
Source: Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group (public domain)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
