Football fans restore grave of British goalkeeper who defied the Nazis
Jack Kirby stood alone in refusing to salute Hitler in 1934. Now, 90 years on, supporters have honoured his legacy
A British footballer who refused to give the Nazi salute during a 1934 tour of Germany has been honoured by supporters across rival clubs, who joined forces to restore his long-forgotten grave.
Jack Kirby, the Derby County goalkeeper at the time, made a quiet but courageous stand against Nazi ideology when he declined to raise his arm during pre-match ceremonies in Hitler’s Germany – defying both the regime and pressure from British officials to conform.
A now-famous photograph from the tour shows Kirby standing alone, arms firmly by his side, as his teammates salute beside him.
His story might have been lost to history if not for Kal Singh Dhindsa, a Derby supporter and historian who discovered the image and launched a campaign to restore Kirby’s weather-damaged headstone in South Derbyshire.
“What an inspirational player, having the bravery to stand up to Hitler and Nazi Germany,” Dhindsa told the Daily Mirror.
Kirby’s quiet defiance took place during a period of rising fascism across Europe. The team faced pressure from both Nazi officials and the British Foreign Office to observe local protocols, but Kirby refused at every match on the tour.
Born in 1909 in the mining village of Overseal, he worked underground before signing with Derby County in 1929. He made 191 appearances for the club throughout the 1930s, including during the controversial Germany tour.
When Dhindsa visited Kirby’s grave, he found the headstone weathered and barely legible. Donations quickly poured in from fans across English football – including fierce rivals in Nottingham Forest – to fund the restoration.
“It was lovely to see the football world come together to honour such a man,” Dhindsa said.
The restored grave was unveiled in a recent ceremony attended by family and supporters. Kirby’s great-niece, Rachel Kirby, said her family had always admired his principled stand.
“His grave had become unrecognisable to fans, but thanks to Kal and generous supporters, it has now been beautifully restored,” she said. “The lettering is once again clear for all to see.”
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