Military History

Embarked Fremantle per A 28 HMAT ‘Miltiades’ for Egypt 12.2.1915.
Roll Rank Temp Shoe Smith 23.2.1916.
Roll Unit 14th Reinforcement, 11th Infantry Battalion.
Birch disembarked at Suez with the 14th Reinforcement, 11th Battalion. They marched in to the 3rd Training Battalion 10.3.1916. He transferred to 112 Howitzer Brigade at Zietoun 22.3.1916. He transferred to the 24th Howitzer Brigade, 112th Battery at Serapeum 2.4.1916. He then transferred to the 4th Division Artillery Column 19.4.1916. Bingham joined the British Expeditionary Force and embarked at Alexandria for France 6.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 13.6.1916. His position as Shoe Smith with the 4th Division Ammunition Column was confirmed 2.5.1916. Birch was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade 18.11.1916. He then transferred to 11th Battalion 8.12.1916, and to 24th Howitzer Brigade as Gunner. Appointment confirmed as Shoe Smith Sergeant in France then England. He transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade 8.11.1917. He continued to serve in France until 1919 and marched out for return to England 31.3.1919. Birch married Gladys Wallis, at Chorlton, Manchester 22.2.1919.
Embarked for Australia with wife per ‘Louise Konigan’ 21.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 2.8.1919.
Discharged 25.9.1919.
Final Rank Sergeant, 10th Field Artillery Brigade.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos Sgt. Birch D. Farrier. Photograph source Sunday Times 12.8.1917 p1
             HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P08559.001
             4.5 inch  Howitzer Ammunition wagons of th 112th Howitzer Battery. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E02194
             4th Division Artillery on the road to Ypres 1917. Photographer J.F.Hurley, photograph source AWM E01220

Information Source
AWM  P08559.001. HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E02194. 4.5 inch  Howitzer Ammunition wagons of th 112th Howitzer Battery. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E01220. 4th Division Artillery on the road to Ypres 1917. Photographer J.F.Hurley, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- David Smith Birch
Guildford Primary School Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Birch D S 4462
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

7 James Street, East Guildford, WA.

 

Associated Images