This memorial is a cenotaph for him. As the monument states And Whose Body Rests In France.
6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers, 3rd Division, A.E.F.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The Pennsylvania Gazette University of Pennsylvania January 3, 1919
Distinguished Service Cross for Lieutenant Birney
For his gallantry in the action that resulted in his death on October 20, Lieutenant Knox Birney, '13, of the Sixth Engineers, was given the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. The citation reads: Lieutenant Birney, on his own initiative, took twelve men from his platoon and charged a number of machine gun nests which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured forty-two prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with minimum number of casualties.
Lieutenant Birney was commissioned in June 1917; went to France in November and promoted to a First Lieutenancy there in January. His regiment was fighting since March. It was twice mentioned in British and Australian dispatches and its Colonel received the British Distinguished Service order for is work.
Pennsylvania: A Record of the University's Men in the Great War
Lieutenant Knox Boude Birney (1913) of Philadelphia was killed in action October 20, 1918 in the last American drive. He was a member of the 6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers and had been in much of the heavy fighting since early spring when he was with the English and Australian forces. He had been recommended for a captaincy. His grandfather was Major General William Birney and his great-uncle Major General David Bell Birney. His great-grandfather was twice nominated for the Presidency of the United States.
6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers, 3rd Division, A.E.F.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The Pennsylvania Gazette University of Pennsylvania January 3, 1919
Distinguished Service Cross for Lieutenant Birney
For his gallantry in the action that resulted in his death on October 20, Lieutenant Knox Birney, '13, of the Sixth Engineers, was given the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. The citation reads: Lieutenant Birney, on his own initiative, took twelve men from his platoon and charged a number of machine gun nests which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured forty-two prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with minimum number of casualties.
Lieutenant Birney was commissioned in June 1917; went to France in November and promoted to a First Lieutenancy there in January. His regiment was fighting since March. It was twice mentioned in British and Australian dispatches and its Colonel received the British Distinguished Service order for is work.
Pennsylvania: A Record of the University's Men in the Great War
Lieutenant Knox Boude Birney (1913) of Philadelphia was killed in action October 20, 1918 in the last American drive. He was a member of the 6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers and had been in much of the heavy fighting since early spring when he was with the English and Australian forces. He had been recommended for a captaincy. His grandfather was Major General William Birney and his great-uncle Major General David Bell Birney. His great-grandfather was twice nominated for the Presidency of the United States.
This memorial is a cenotaph for him. As the monument states And Whose Body Rests In France.
6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers, 3rd Division, A.E.F.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The Pennsylvania Gazette University of Pennsylvania January 3, 1919
Distinguished Service Cross for Lieutenant Birney
For his gallantry in the action that resulted in his death on October 20, Lieutenant Knox Birney, '13, of the Sixth Engineers, was given the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. The citation reads: Lieutenant Birney, on his own initiative, took twelve men from his platoon and charged a number of machine gun nests which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured forty-two prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with minimum number of casualties.
Lieutenant Birney was commissioned in June 1917; went to France in November and promoted to a First Lieutenancy there in January. His regiment was fighting since March. It was twice mentioned in British and Australian dispatches and its Colonel received the British Distinguished Service order for is work.
Pennsylvania: A Record of the University's Men in the Great War
Lieutenant Knox Boude Birney (1913) of Philadelphia was killed in action October 20, 1918 in the last American drive. He was a member of the 6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers and had been in much of the heavy fighting since early spring when he was with the English and Australian forces. He had been recommended for a captaincy. His grandfather was Major General William Birney and his great-uncle Major General David Bell Birney. His great-grandfather was twice nominated for the Presidency of the United States.
6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers, 3rd Division, A.E.F.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The Pennsylvania Gazette University of Pennsylvania January 3, 1919
Distinguished Service Cross for Lieutenant Birney
For his gallantry in the action that resulted in his death on October 20, Lieutenant Knox Birney, '13, of the Sixth Engineers, was given the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing. The citation reads: Lieutenant Birney, on his own initiative, took twelve men from his platoon and charged a number of machine gun nests which had been holding up the advance for two hours. Attacking them across open ground, he cleaned out the nests and captured forty-two prisoners. In attacking other nests in the vicinity he lost his life. His courageous act made it possible for the attacking troops to gain and hold the woods with minimum number of casualties.
Lieutenant Birney was commissioned in June 1917; went to France in November and promoted to a First Lieutenancy there in January. His regiment was fighting since March. It was twice mentioned in British and Australian dispatches and its Colonel received the British Distinguished Service order for is work.
Pennsylvania: A Record of the University's Men in the Great War
Lieutenant Knox Boude Birney (1913) of Philadelphia was killed in action October 20, 1918 in the last American drive. He was a member of the 6th Regiment Pioneer Engineers and had been in much of the heavy fighting since early spring when he was with the English and Australian forces. He had been recommended for a captaincy. His grandfather was Major General William Birney and his great-uncle Major General David Bell Birney. His great-grandfather was twice nominated for the Presidency of the United States.
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