Name
John Birch
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42443
Lincolnshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 23 and 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Wigginton Village Memorial, Lincolnshire Regiment Roll of Honour WW1
Pre War
John Birch was born in 1898 in Wigginton, Herts, the son of George William Birch (b.1863 in Wigginton, Herts) and Mary Louise Birch (nee Field) (b.1864 in Haverton, Devon). He was one of six children.
1901 Census records John aged 2, living with his parents, stepbrother William 12, brothers Joseph 8, George 6 and sister May 4, near The Brewhouse, Wigginton, Herts.
1911 Census records John aged 12, at school, living with his parents, stepbrother William 22, brothers Joseph 18, George 16 and Sidney 7, at Pheasant Cottage, Wigginton, Herts. (In the 1911 census Birch is spelt "Burch").
Wartime Service
John enlisted in Aylesbury, Bucks and was posted to the 28th Training Reserve Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment with the Service No. 14721, later being transferred to the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment with the Service No. 42443.
John was killed in action on 21 March 1918, He has no grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing. Panels 23 & 24.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £8 16s 11d. Pension cards exist with his mother named as dependant in respect of John and his brother William but there are no details as to the amount of pension paid.
Brother to William Birch who served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment and died 20 March 1916.
Acknowledgments
Iain Duncan, Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
Iain Duncan, Stuart Osborne.
