Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Bookmade by the French, British, and 1st and 4th Canadian battns., just east of the Ypres Canal. His battn. lost all its officers but four, and some 560 casualties other ranks, but they never wavered and got into the enemy's line, saved the day, and prevented the enemy's advance south along the east bank of the canal. We are still being desperately engaged, and I cannot write much, but I am sure you will be glad to hear that he has been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was wounded, had his wound dressed, was wounded again, yet would go on, and fell, leading the charge which took the trenches.... I had a written message from him timed 4.20 p.m. acknowledging an order, and I hope some day to be able to give it to you. His loss has been the greatest blow the contingent could have had. Loved by all, and worshipped by his officers and men, we feel that it was his personal magnetism alone which kept his regt. together, and enabled them to hold what they had gained. All our deepest sympathies are with you and your family, but his end could not have been more glorious"; and the following tribute from an old friend appeared in "The Times" (29 April, 1915): "The claim to have been the most popular officer in the Army is a large one, and may be advanced in the name of many a candidate. But it is probable that all who in any true sense had made Birchall's acquaintance will claim that no officer could have been more deeply, and probably none more widely, beloved and admired. At Eton, at Magdalen, and for fifteen years in the Army, he was for ever winning to himself friends by the simple but irresistible charm of his nature--by his manliness and sportsmanship, his humour and high spirits, his enthusiasm for his profession as in general for the better things of life. Joining the newly-formed 4th Battn. of the Royal Fusiliers during the South African War, as a university candidate, he became closely identified with its fortunes for some ten years; and he was largely responsible for raising it to the high level of the older battns. of that famous regt. Beloved alike by his brother officers and men, he was equally prominent as a leader in soldiering and in sport: in the field of manœuvre as in the football, the hockey, the hunting, but especially the cricket field he always played a fine sporting game. After ably fulfilling the second adjutancy of his battn., he received the singular distinction of being selected--one of two officers from the whole Army--to be attached to the Canadian Forces, according to a scheme for the mutual benefit of both services. In Canada, he inevitably won through to the same affectionate and admiring popularity as at home. His period of appointment was extended, he was appointed to the Staff, and was given an almost transcontinental district of supervision. The characteristic energy which he threw into this work in the unaccustomed climate caused a temporary breakdown in his health, and bitter was his grief, on returning to England, shortly before the outbreak of war, to find himself entirely forbidden on medical grounds to take for the present the share in active service for which he had keenly prepared and eminently fitted himself. To such advantage, however, did he make use of his time, even of sickness, that, in the intervals of being visited by a constant stream of devoted friends from two continents, he compiled the admirable little manual for the use of regimental officers in the present emergency training, which he entitled "Rapid Training of a Company for War" (Gale & Polden, Aldershot). This book rapidly attained a wide success, and was brought up to date in a second (and subsequent) edition, just as he himself, recently promoted Major, was appointed first a staff Captain in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and in immediate succession given command of the 4th Canadian Infantry a few days before it sailed for the front." Col. Birchall resided at Saintbridge House, Gloucester. His brother, Capt. J. Dearman Birchall is (1916) serving with the Royal Gloucestershire's Hussars Yeomanry. [Illustration: =Arthur P. D. Birchall.=] =BIRD, CUTHBERT=, Private, No. 588, 13th Battn. Australian Imperial Force; volunteered on the outbreak of war; killed in action at the Dardanelles, 1 May, 1915. =BIRD, EDWARD=, Private, No. 11984, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Bird, of 14, Albert Terrace, Stafford; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was reported missing 25 Jan., 1915, and is now assumed to have been killed in action that day. =BIRD, EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9529). S.S. 106902, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BIRD, FRANCIS CLIFFORD=, 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. King's Shropshire L.I., elder _s._ of Francis Bird of Cotswold, Winchcombe, co. Gloucester, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late Joseph Tibbits, of Warwick; _b._ Cotswold, Winchcombe, 21 June 1895; educ. King William's College, Isle of Man, and Cheltenham College, where he was a member of the O.T.C. On the outbreak of war he volunteered, was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 15 Aug. 1914, went to the Front in Jan. and was killed in action near St. Eloi, 2 March, 1915. He was buried at Voorezelle; _unm._ =BIRD, FRANK EDWARD=, Corpl., No. 476, C Squadron Essex Yeomanry, eldest _s._ of Frederick Bird, of Thorley, Herts, by his wife, Fanny Alberta, dau. of George, Fowler; _b._ Thorley, 25 March, 1893; educ. Hockerill Boys' Practising Schools; joined Essex Yeomanry as a Trumpeter in Nov. 1909, and having completed his four years' service, rejoined for a further period. He was killed in action, near Ypres, 13 May, 1915; _unm._ He was mentioned in Despatches for bravery and coolness under fire, and Capt. R. G. Proby, commanding the Stortford Troop, writing to his father, said: "He took part with the rest of the Stortford Troop in a very gallant attack on the German lines. The attack succeeded, but unfortunately our losses were heavy--he is among the number. I need hardly say how sorry I am to have to tell you this news. His death will be very greatly felt by the whole squadron, and especially by his friends in the Stortford Troop, with whom he was very popular. It will be some consolation to you to know how bravely he fell." [Illustration: =Frank Edward Bird.=] =BIRD, STEPHEN CARMEN=, Private, No. 67193, B Coy., 25th Battn., 2nd Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late Stephen Bird, Lieut. 93rd Battn. (died 9 Dec. 1895), by his wife, Augusta (Amherst, Nova Scotia), dau. of William Bird; _b._ Mapleton, Nova Scotia, posthumous, 24 April, 1896; educ. Amherst High School; was employed in the Offices of Canada Car Co., Amherst; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 9 Nov. 1914; came over with the 2nd Contingent, 29 May, 1915; went to France, 15 Sept. and was killed in action there, 8 Oct. 1915, by the explosion of a mine; _unm._ A comrade wrote: "He was a friend at all times and |