Biography of Private John William Birch (12767)
7th Lincolnshire Regiment
Died 29th April 1917

Mother

• Name: Mary Jane King
• DOB: 1861
• Place Of Birth: Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, England
• Marriage: 1885 Bourne District

Relatives in services

• None found

Wife’s parents

• Father: Thomas Pinfold
• Mother: Martha Henson

Newspaper Mentions

• The Times Wednesday August 16th 1916
  WOUNDED
  LINCOLN R.
  Birch, 12767 W.

• Grimsby News Friday 18th August 1916
  WOUNDED
  Lincolnshire Regiment
  Birch, 12767 W. (Manthorpe)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 19th August 1916
  LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES.
  N.C.O.’s and Men
  Wounded
  Birch 12767 W. (Manthorpe)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 19th May 1917
  MANTHORPE
  THE VERY DISTRESSING NEWS has reached Mr and Mrs Birch to the effect that their eldest son, Signaller J W Birch has died of wounds in France. Information had been received stating he was seriously wounded  by gunshot on April 24th and was in critical condition and later the sad news came of is death on April 29th. Signaller Birch enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment on Sept 14th 1914 and went abroad in July 1915, being slightly wounded in the hand some month ago. He was 28 years of age and leave a wife and one child. Deceased was a perfect type of Englishman of fine physique and a generous kind-hearted disposition and will be greatly missed. A memorial service was held in St Andrew’s Church, Witham on the Hill on Sunday. Signaller Birch was buried in a British Cemetery near the hospital where he died.

• Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 7th June 1917
  LOCAL CASUALTIES
  KILLED
  LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT
  Birch, 12767 Pte. W. (Bourne)

• The Times Tuesday June 12th 1917
  DIED OF WOUNDS
  LINC. R.
  Birch 12767 W. (Bourne)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 16th June 1917
  LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES.
  Died of wounds
  Birch 12767 W. (Bourne)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 27th April 1918
  In loving memory of John William Birch (our Billie) who died of wounds after the Battle of Arras, April 29th 1917 aged 28 years.
  “No loved one stood beside him
  To hear his last farewell;
  No wood of comfort could be have
  From those he loved so well.
  He has gone from us
  We must go to him;
  He will not return to us.”
  Sadly missed by FATHER, MOTHER, WIFE, BROTHER and SISTERS (manthorpe, Bourne)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 3rd May 1919
  BIRCH – In memory of John William Birch, Signaller, who died in the Battle of Arras, wounded April 24th, died April 29th 1917 aged 28 years.
  “On the heart that cartel for thee
  Rest thou, then, from sorrow free,
  For of all moat tender brothers,
  None so good as He.
  He has gone from us;
  We must go to him;
  He will not return.”
  From his loving WIFE, CHILD, FATHER, MOTHER, BTOTHERS and SISTERS (Manthorpe, Bourne).

Military Records

Medals

• The British Medal
• The Victory Medal
• The 15 Star

Memorials

• UK:
• Witham on the Hill, Roll of Honour in St Andrew’s Church

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Private John William Birch, 12767, 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 29 April 1917 Age 28
• Husband of Lily Birch, of 32 Henry St, Leicester
• Remembered with honour, Etaples Military Cemetery.
• Grave XVIII. II 2A.

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

• John William Birch enlisted in Grantham and joined the newly formed 7th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in September 1914.

  Unfortunately, as is the case with 60% of all WW1 records we cannot find John’s military records and they were most likely burned in a warehouse fire in the Blitz. However, we are able to gather some sense into John’s military career through looking at the history of the Battalion.

  The Battalion trained around Wareham before moving to Winchester in May 1915 for final intensive war training.

  On the 10th July, the Battalion received orders that they would be sent into action, and on the 14th they marched out of Flowerdown Camp (Winchester) and entrained for Felixstowe with a strength of 21 officers and 932 other ranks. At midnight they disembarked in Boulogne and proceeded to Osterhove Camp.

  9am on the 15th July saw the Battalion route march to Pont-Des-Briques station and entrain for Wizernes near St Omer. They were billeted at Setques and Quelmes where they remained until the 17th July.

  The Battalion then moved to Wallon Cappel and then Eecke on the 21st. 5 officers were sent into trenches near Ypres for further instruction. On the 24th the Battalion, alongside the 51st Brigade, were placed in Corps reserve with a strength of 29 officers and 933 other ranks.

  By the 27th July, the Battalion was sent into trenches near Reninghelst, attached to the 138th Brigade, 46th Division. The Battalion received their first casualties in the Battle on the 30th July with 6 other ranks wounded. It was not until the 17th August 1915 that the first fatalities were recorded.

  They 7th Battalion remained in the Ypres area until March 1916 when it moved to Armentieres to continue in the trenches there until the end of May 1916.

  In June 1916, the Battalion moved to St Omer and then on to Allonville to enter brigade training for the rest of the month for a major offensive that was soon approaching. On the 30th June, the Battalion arrived in Morlandcourt to await orders.

  On the 1st July 1916 (first day of the Battle of the Somme) the Battalion marched from Heilley to Fricourt to join the British frontline. They relieved the 6th Dorsets and then on the 2nd were ordered to attack Fricourt with the South Staffordshires. They attained some objectives before being held up by the enemy guns in Fricourt Wood. They Battalion’s first tour of the Somme trenches finished on the 12th July when they were relieved and moved back to Fordringy.

  Since the 1st July, the Battalion casualties were 7 officers and 49 other ranks killed, 7 officers and 246 other ranks wounded, 28 other ranks missing.

  The 7th Battalion Lincolnshire remained on the Somme for the remainder of 1916.

  We suspect that John was either wounded and send back to England to recover, or wounded and then had leave in England as we find him getting married in the Leicester area between January and March 1917. He married Lily Pinfold, daughter of Thomas Pinfold and Martha Henson.

  On the 23rd January, their son Charles W Birch was born, so this must mean that John was in England in April 1916.

  The 7th Lincs received 100 new replacement troops between 18th-20th January 1917 whilst they were in the frontline at Meaulte near Albert on the Somme.

  The reinforced Battalion next saw action on the 29th January when they relieved the 8th South Staffordshire Regiment in the line near Sailly Saillisel.

  In February the 7th Lincs and the 8th South Staffs traded the camp and the frontline at Sailly Saillsel in rotation until the 21st when the Lincs were withdrawn from the front and moved to Corbie and then Bussy at the end of the month. Throughout March they were moved to Herissart, Gezaincourt, Maison Ponthieu, La Broye, Waivens before being billeted at Le Suich and Brevillers. The fighting force at the end of the month was 32 officers and 882 other ranks.

  The following transcription from the Battalion Diary shows the conditions that Private John Birch faced in his last days during the battle of Arras.
  1st April 1917 – Le Souich

  26 other ranks joined for duty wastage from sickness 11 other ranks
  3rd April 1917 – Le Souich

  Lieut C S Bott took over command of B company
  5th April 1917 – Le Souich

  4 other ranks joined for duty. battalion with 51st infantry brigade group, marched to Neuville-Au-Cornet.
  6th April 1917 – Neuville-Au-Cornet

  Fighting strength 32 officers, 792 other ranks, wastage from sickness 16 other ranks.
  7th April 1917 – Neuville-Au-Cornet

  Battalion with 51st infantry brigade group marched to Villers sir Simon
  8th April 1917 – Villers Sir Simon

  Battalion with 51st infantry brigade group marched to Novellette. battalion under 4 hours notice.
  9th April 1917 – Novellette (First day of battle of Arras)

  5.30am – Z day of offensive. The 17th Division held in readiness to support the cavalry corps. The Battalion with 51st infantry Brigade moved towards Arras.

  9.30pm -Orders received to close up on leading Battalion and bivouac on side of road about 2 miles from Arras.
  10th April 1917 – Arras

  Battalion with Brigade Group marched into Arras to billets at one hours notice.
  13th April 1917

  Battalion moved to Railway Triangle East of Arras behind old German front line.
  14th April 1917

  Moved to Brown Line H28.a.4.5 to H28.c.5.7 old German 2nd Line
  15th April 1917

  Working party found by Battalion for front line.
  16th April 1917 – Brown Line

  Working party found by Battalion for Front Line
  17th April 1917 – Brown Line

  Enemy shelled our trench with 4.2s during day, very heavy during afternoon, Casualties Lieut C S Bott killed, Lieut G A Wright and 17 other ranks wounded.
  18th April 1917 – Brown Line

  Battalion moved North along Brown Line close to Railway. Battalion HQ moved to Railway Cutting, Captain E James MC and 1 other ranks joined for duty. Casualties 3 other ranks.
  19th April 1917 – Railway Triangle

  Provided carrying parties to front line, and afterwards returned to Railway Triangle. Casualties Killed 1 other rank, wounded Captain R Pennington DSO and 2 other ranks wounded slightly at duty. Captain J H Cotter RAMC Medical Officer attached, and 2 other ranks.
  21st April 1917 – Railway Triangle

  Battalion returned to Brown Line. Casualties 1 other rank.
  23rd April 1917 – Monchy-Le-Preux

  3am – Battalion took up position from cross roads H.29.d.8.7 to H28.d.4.9 in accordance with plan from general advance of the whole line, the 17th division: working in conjunction with 51st Division on the left bank of River Scarpe and 29th Division: on 17 Division right, the 17th Division being centre Division on right bank of Scarpe.

  4.45am – Zero Hour a standing barrage put on enemy lines Bayonet Trench and Rifle Trench to life at the rate of 3 minutes per 100 yards.

  4.55am – The Battalion moved forward with orders to occupy Bayonet Trench after it had been taken by 8th South Staffs

  5.45am – Arrived at Lone Copse H.30.d and found 8th South Staffs digging in as this first attack on Bayonet Trench had failed owing to heavy Machine Gun fire both from the enemy line in our immediate front and from the left bank of the River Scarpe.

  6.30am – The 8th South Staffs attacked again at 6.30am with same result as the first attack. It was reported that thick coils of wire was still in front of enemy line, also reported that Border Regiment had captured south end of Bayonet Trench.

  7.45am – Received orders to attack Bayonet Trench and a barrage was ordered for that time.

  8.20am – The Battalion advanced to attack Bayonet Trench leading waves A company on left, B company on right D company supported A and C supported B.

  9am – Leading waves reported to be within 30 yards of Bayonet Trench having crawled there under heavy machine gun fire, trench strongly held. Heavy enfilade fire from North of River Scarpe.

  10.5am – Attack having failed the Battalion returned to the assembly trench. Lone Copse holding line H.30.d.2.3 to left towards the Scarpe.

  Consolidation commenced at once and awaited orders.

  Captain D Roberts, 2 Lieuts H Y Maulkinson, A Crawley, T E Stubbs, R G Rudd killed with 22 other ranks, wounded 98 other ranks, missing 20 other ranks.

  During our stay in this position the enemy constantly kept a barrage on our back lines and in the valley below our position.

  6pm – 50th Brigade passed through our position to attack Bayonet Trench. Battalions of 51st brigade ordered to stand fast and form close support. Enemy having seen 50th Brigade advancing put a very heavy barrage on our back lines and shortened as the waves approached.

  8.30pm – 50th Brigade attack failed. The Dorset regiment returned and took up a position about 100 yards in our front and dug in.

  9pm – Enemy put up S.O.S which brought a greater artillery barrage than ever in and about our trench and back lines.

  11.30pm – Orders received to return to Railway Triangle East of Arras after being relieved.
  24th April

  4am – Battalion Arrived at Railway Triangle in an exhausted condition having been in the open for about 20 days.
  25th April

  Moved by train from Arras to Grand Rullecourt
  27th April

  Fighting strength, 24 officers, 685 other ranks.

  John was wounded by a gunshot wound in action on the 24th April, possibly in the early hours before the withdrawal back to Railway Triangle at 4am. He would have been treated locally to the Battalion’s position, at an advanced dressing station and then moved to a field hospital before being withdrawn back to one of the many military hospitals away from the front. John was larter moved back to Etaples, on the coast south of Boulogne possibly due to his condition worsening. He would have been treated there, likely waiting for evacuation to England when stable enough to be moved.

  Unfortunately, John died of his wounds on the 29th April 1917 while in hospital at Etaples.

  The Grantham Journal, a few weeks later on the 19th May stated:
  ‘’MANTHORPE

  THE VERY DISTRESSING NEWS has reached Mr and Mrs Birch to the effect that their eldest don, Signaller J W Birch has died of wounds in France. Information had been received stating he was seriously wounded by gunshot on April 24th and was in critical condition and later the sad news came of his death on April 29th. Signaller Birch enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment on Sept 14th 1914 and went abroad in July 1915, being slightly wounded in the hand some month ago. He was 28 years of age and leaves a wife and one child. Deceased was a perfect type of Englishman of fine physique and a generous kind-hearted disposition and will be greatly missed. A memorial service was held at St Andrew’s Church, Witham on the Hill on Sunday. Signaller Birch was buried in a British Cemetery near the hospital where he died.’’

  All effects were left to John’s wife Lily. According to the Commission records she was still living at 32 Henry Street, Leicester when she gave the personal inscription ‘’NO MORNING DAWNS/ NO NIGHT RETURNS/ BUT WHAT I THINK OF THEE/ FROM HIS LOVING WIFE & SONNY.’’ At the time of the effects being decided, Lily was recorded to have remarried Samuel Ward between April and June 1924. They lived in Manthorpe, Bourne. They had a further son Cyril Ward born on 19th October 1924.

  John was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. During the war, this area of France was used for reinforcements camps and hospitals as it was far away enough from the fighting but accessible enough by railway from both the northern and southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped in Etaples. The hospitals in this area, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could care to 22,000 wounded or sick soldiers. In 1919, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C convalescent depot remained.

  Etaples Military Cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, with the earliest dating from May 1915. Only 35 of these burials are unidentified.
  Etaples was used again as a medical centre in the Second World War. The cemetery was used for burials from January 1940 until May 1940. Of the 119 Second World War burials here, 38 are unidentified.
  The cemetery also contains 662 Non-Commonwealth burials, mainly German, including 6 unidentified. There are also now 5 Non World War burials here.

  The cemetery, the largest Commission cemetery in France, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens who is also known for Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and the Cenotaph.

  John is buried in graves XVIII. D. 2A.

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• British Newspaper Archive.
• Fold 3
• Find My Past
• Genealogist
• Forces War Records
• British Army Service Numbers
• War Gratuity Calculator
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
• General Registry Office