us-005578-irn60841-irn84725
type: RecordSet
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Rectangular 1 pound bank note on metal thread security paper with pale blue designs on an orange geometric patterned background. Across the face are 3 medallions: on the left, a seated Britannia with scepter, center, 3 lines of English text above the denomination One, and right, the denomination 1. The serial number in red is on the upper right and lower left. Along the bottom is a narrow rectangle with the denomination One on the left, a white circle with a watermarked image of a helmeted woman, and English text. The reverse has an orange image of the collonaded south front of the Bank of England above 2 orange medallions with St. George on horseback slaying a dragon with a blue background of swirling foliage. The note is creased and stained.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1940 March 28-1948
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: eng
has record set type: Item
history: James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo was born on April 22, 1921, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the second of three children born to Gerhard and Irene Kirkebo. His parents were both born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Gerhard was a building contractor. In spring 1939, James graduated from high school and took a job as a shipping clerk. On September 14, 1940, he enlisted in the US Army. Following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. James was deployed for four and a half months with the Asia Pacific Technical Operations (APTO) unit, through December 1941. James rose to the rank of Sergeant, with a specialty in reconnaissance. On December 7, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor,a, and a few days later the US entered World War II. On May 11, 1942, James was selected to attend the Army’s newly formed Officer Candidate Course at Fort Benning in Georgia. In early August, Staff Sergeant Kirkebo, 2nd Training Regiment, 16th Co., graduated from the Officer’s Candidate Course and was reenlisted as a Second Lieutenant with a specialty in automotive maintenance and repair. In mid-August, the 11th Armored Division, the Thunderbolt Division, was activated, as part of the Third Army. James was made commanding officer of C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion. The unit was deployed in September to Great Britain. In early December, his unit landed in Normandy, France, and moved north into Belgium. They entered combat on December 30, defending the road to Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. In January 1945, the Division spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. On February 1, James received a field promotion to Captain. In February and March, the 11th Armored overran several cities, then crossed the Rhine River. In April, the unit turned south towards the Danube River and Austria. James was wounded by shrapnel on April 25, but continued fighting. On May 5 and 6, the Division liberated Gusen and Mauthausen con…
history: The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo.
identifier: irn84725
is or was included in: us-005578-irn60841
record resource extent: overall: Height: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Width: 5.875 inches (14.923 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: British 1 pound note, an emergency wartime issue, acquired by Captain James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. This note was issued to increase security of the currency. The colors were changed and metal security thread in the paper. Kirkebo, 19, enlisted in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.
title: Great Britain, 1 pound note, acquired by a US soldier