Name
William Charles Birch
3 Aug 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/05/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9781
Border Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 120 to 126 or 222 and 223.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
William Charles Birch was born on 3 Aug 1894 (baptised 14 Apr 1895) in Tring to Herbert Birch, a cowman on farm, and Elizabeth Harriet (nee Gibson).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, William Charles and Willie (baptised William, born 1899) were living at 9, Charles Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, cowman on farm and charwoman respectively, Willie, Kate (born 1903), Florrie (born 1905) and Dorothy (born 1907) were living at Miswell Lane cottages, Tring.
William Charles enlisted as Private 9781 in the Border Regiment some time in 1910, No Service records are available to confirm the exact date but his service number was issued between 3 Mar 1910 and 4 Jan 1911.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War 1st Battalion were serving in Burma (Myanmar) and returned to UK on 10 Jan 1915 to become a unit of 87 Brigade, 29 Division.
After re-equipment the Division left from Avonmouth on 17 Mar 1915 destined for Gallipoli via Egypt. They landed at Cape Helles on 25 Apr 1915. William Charles was killed in action on 10 May 1915 - probably in the daily attrition of trench warfare between the Second Battle of Krithia (6 May) and the Third Battle of Krithia (4 June).
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Cape Helles.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 10s and arrears of £6 18s 10d was paid to his father.
Brother Wille served as Sapper 242330 Royal Engineers from Feb 1917 to 12 Feb 1919 at Chatham working at his profession as a tailor.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
