Frode Kirkebjerg

Frode Kirkebjerg, son of a school principal, grew up near Askov in Jutland. He graduated from the prestigious Herlufsholm School near Næstved on the island of Zealand in 1906 and started a military career. Three years later, he was promoted to first lieutenant. From 1911-13 he attended the military riding school and from 1918-20 the officer training school. As captain in the 1st Artillery Battalion, Kirkebjerg received further training at the French field artillery and the riding school in Saumur (1921-22). He was appointed lieutenant colonel and commander of the 9th artillery division in Aarhus in 1932. In 1940, he was transferred to the 6th artillery division, where he served until his retirement in 1948.

In addition, Kirkebjerg held senior positions in the Danish Air Force Association and the Civil Defence Association, both civilian volunteer organisations, in the 1940s and 1950s. For his merits, he was appointed Knight of the Order of Saint Olav in Norway and was awarded Denmarks’ Civil Defence Association Medal of Honour and Sweden’s Royal Air Force Gold Medal.

During his time at the riding school, Kirkebjerg competed in the eventing competition of the 1912 Olympic Games but was unable to finish the show jumping section. Twelve years later, he won silver in eventing at the Paris Olympics with his horse Meteor after dominating the cross-country section. As he was the only Danish competitor in this event, there was no Danish team in eventing. At the time of his successful appearance in Paris, he was a member of the board of the Danish Equestrian Federation (1921-40) and a member of the Danish Olympic Committee (1922-36). Kirkebjerg was then the leader of his country’s equestrian teams at the 1928 and 1936 Olympic Games. He was awarded the respective Medal of Honour from the Swedish and Danish Equestrian Federations and from the Danish Sports Association. His son Lars Kirkebjerg followed in his father’s footsteps as an Olympian in eventing in 1956.

Frode Kirkebjerg was married to Eleanor Ingeborg Caroline Bruun from 1920-26 and to Elde de Linde from 1929-59. Both marriages ended in divorce. With his first wife he had one son with the second two daughters.