The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private G Bird

Photograph by Chris(tine) Eaton

Private George BIRD, G/1033, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, 14 Field Ambulance, France and Flanders, 6th September 1916, age 20.

Born Lower Sydenham, Kent, son of Henry & Jane Elizabeth Bird, of 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham, London.

1911 Census - 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham - Mrs Jane Bird, head, age 41, widow, 10 children, 6 still alive, laundress, born Sydenham; George Bird, son, age 15, single, shop boy, born Sydenham; Florie Bird, daughter, age 9, school, born Sydenham.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 19, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 114lbs. Formerly fitter.

Home 3rd September 1914 to 24th May 1915; BEF 25th May 1915 to 6th September 1916.

3rd September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 5th September 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th October 1914, posted Royal West Kent Regiment; 2nd March 1915, Chatham, overstaying his pass till 8.00am the 4th inst. forfeits 2 days pay; 27th March 1915, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm till 8.00am 29th inst. 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 3 days pay; 1st April 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st May 1915, Chatham, absent from Tattoo until Tattoo 2nd inst. 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 9th May 1915, Chatham, breaking out of Barracks whilst a defaulter and remaining absent from Tattoo until 7.00am 10th inst. deprived of 10 days pay, forfeits 1 days pay; 25th May 1915, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th May 1915, 5 Infantry Base Depot, France; 24th July 1915, joined Battalion, "D" Company; 15th July 1916, deprived of 7 days pay; 3rd September 1916, wounded, gun shot wound to the head.

4th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Mother, Jane E Bird, 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham; Sisters - Mrs Caroline Whitmarsh, age 25, 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham; Florence? Bird, age 18, 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham; Nephew, George Henry Whitmarsh, 6 months? ???; Uncles / Aunts - Mrs Henry Thorne, age 40, 6 ???? Road; Mrs Rushton?, No12 Miall Road, Lower Sydenham.

Buried at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, Special Memorial, A15, Somme, France.

NOTE: Soldiers Died in the Great War and Service Records has date of death as 6th September 1916, CWGC web site shows it as 16th September 1916.

CWGC website - "Son of Jane Whitmarch (formerly Bird) of 38, Miall Road, Lower Sydenham, London and the late Henry Bird."

2nd July 2012 email from Danny MCINTOSH - hi george Bird(1st battalion) his mother married john whitmarsh not whitmarch. john whitmarsh had a son called henry G WHITMARSH driver RFA who married george birds sister . please could you put this right. i know this because his sister was my great nan many thanks

1923 June Quarter, Lewisham Registration District - marriage of Jane E Bird & John Whitmarsh.

This page was last updated on 01-May-2017.