The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Corporal W J Bird

Corporal Walter James BIRD, G/18073, 7th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders, France, death presumed on or after, 30th September 1916, age 27.

Born Mettingham, Suffolk, son of James and Martha Bird, of 3, Vicarage Lane, Mettingham, Suffolk.

1911 Census - Vicarage Lane, Mettingham, Suffolk - James Bird, head, age 54, married, maltster labourer, malsters, born Mettingham, Suffolk; Martha Bird, wife, age 50, married 28 years, 6 children, 4 still alive, born Bungay, Suffolk; Edwin Bird, son, age 31, single, fisherman, born Bungay, Suffolk; Walter Bird, son, age 22, single, fisherman, born Bungay, Suffolk; Elizabeth Bird, daughter, age 16, single, born Bungay, Suffolk.

Enlisted Ely, Cambridgeshire, age 26, height 5ft 10½ inches, weight 176lbs. Formerly fisherman.

Home 27th May 1915 to 26th August 1916; BEF 27th August 1916 to 3th September 1916.

27th May 1915, enlisted into 3/1 Suffolk Yeomanry, Service No. 2082; 29th May 1915, posted 2/1 Suffolk Yeomanry; 10th January 1916, appointed Acting Lance Corporal, unpaid; 21st March 1916, appointed Acting Corporal; 29th July 1916, posted Corporal, 3/1 Suffolk Yeomanry; 27th August 1916, posted 1/4 Suffolk Regiment & embarked Folkestone; 27th August 1916, disembarked Boulogne; 28th August 1916, 15 Infantry Base Depot; 7th September 1916, transferred to 4th Reserve Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, & posted 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th September 1916, posted missing.

11th December 1916, Order for stoppages of Pay under Section 145 of The Army Act - I hereby order that G/10073, Corporal Walter James Bird, reported missing 30th September 1916, Royal West Kent Regiment, be placed under a stoppage of pay at the rate of fourpence a day from the date of this order for the support of his illegitimate child. When all the arrears which have accrued under the magistrates order have been paid off , the stoppage of page if in excess of the amount ordered to be paid by the magistrates, will be reduced to the amount of their order.

Full name & postal address of the person to whom stoppages are to be remitted - Grace Lambert, Gas House lane, Bungay, Suffolk.

Particulars of the Affiliation Order or Decree obtained against the soldier - Affiliation Order or Decree obtained from the Magistrates at Bungay. Date of Order, 1st February 1912. Woman's name and address as shown in the order, Grace Lambert, Gas House lane, Bungay, Suffolk. Date of * Child's Birth, 15th October 1910. Rate of Payment ordered by the Magistrate, 3/6 a week.

30th November 1921, letter from Mrs G Brighton, No.2. Gas House lane, Bungay, Suffolk asking if his son would be entitled to his medals etc. In accordance with War Office instructions they have been sent to his father, Mr J Bird, Vicarage Lane, Mettingham, Suffolk.

* Lambert Walter J B

16th September 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, James Bird, age 63, Vicarage Lane, Mettingham, Bungay; Mother, Martha Bird, age 59, Vicarage Lane, Mettingham, Bungay; Brother, Edwin Bird, age 39, Low Roads, Millingham; Sisters - Lucy Bird, age 36, 135 High Road, Streatham; Elizabeth Bird, age 24, Kirbycane Hall, Bungay.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.

This page was last updated on 10-Jan-2017.