Alister Kirby

Who was Alister Kirby?

Alister Graham Kirby was a British rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He died on service during the First World War.

Kirby was born at Brompton, West London, the son of Arthur Raymond Kirby, a Bencher of Lincolns Inn and his wife Gertrude Fleming. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford. He rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race in 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909 but was only in the winning crew in his last year 1909, when he was President. He was President of Vincent's Club in 1909. Kirby became a member of Leander Club and was captain of the Leander eight which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics.

On the outbreak of World War I, he was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade and served as a Captain. He died from illness in 1917 and was buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles, France.