Bernard Birch

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo source: Adrienne, FindaGrave.com

Bernard Birch was born on the 6th September 1914 in the Watford, Hertfordshire registration district, the son of Jonathan & Johanna Birch (née Harragan), who had married in the December quarter of 1894 in the same registration district. The 1901 census sees the family living at The Elms, 2, Highland Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire.  Jonathan Birch is head of the household and was serving as a sergeant in the Royal Marine Artillery, Royal Navy.  They had two children, Cornelious J. Birch, 5, and Rose Birch, 1 month old, who had been born in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

The 1911 census, which was the first one that the public filled in the census forms, shows the family now in a very different position. They are living at 7, Esher Street, Kennington, Lambeth, London and Jonathan and Johanna are both working as Caretakers for the Moffat Institute. The Institute carrried out missionary work amongst the poor including cheap meals, religious instruction and a savings bank. The census reveals that they had had four children. Cornelious J. Birch, 15, was a student and Percy J. Birch, 3 years had been born in Kennington, London but sadly 2 children had died, one of whom was Rose Birch who had died of Diphtheria, aged 9 years, on the 12th of June 1910.

Bernard Birch was born in 1914, as already stated, so the first time we see him is on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, where we find the family living at 120, Kings Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire. Jonathan Birch is now working as a Messenger for the Admiralty and Johanna Birch was doing Home Duties. Cornelious J. Birch was working as a Bank Clerk for the Bank of British West Africa, 17, Leadenhall St. EC.3. John Percy Birch, 13 years and Bernard Birch, 6 years made up the family.

Cornelious Birch was to marry Sarah G. Mansell in the December quarter of 1923 but Bernard’s father, Jonathan, sadly died in the March quarter of 1930. On the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, we find Johanna and Bernard still living at 120, Kings Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire. She was doing Unpaid Domestic Duties and Bernard was single and a working as a Painter Decorator.

Sadly, I have no other information on Bernard Birch, neither his early or teen years, but he first enlisted in the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Regiment on the 26th July 1940. He transferred to the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment on the 13th September 1942 and was transferred back to the 1/7th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Regiment on the 3rd June 1943. He was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. The Regiment landed at La Riviere, Normandy on the afternoon of the 8th June and advanced through Bayeux into Blary and then Villiers Bocage. They had to withdraw due to the strength of opposition and moved to positions on Hill 174. On the 17th June they took up defensive positions between 1/5th and 1/6th Queens but on the morning of 18th June the forward platoons of B Company were shelled and some men were wounded. It is presumed that one of the wounded men was Bernard Birch.

After treatment in Normandy he was evacuated back to the UK and taken to Plas Maelor, Emergency Services Hospital, near Croesnewydd, Wrexham. Unfortunately, he died of his wounds on the 18th August 1944. I believe his mother, Johanna, died a few months before he did so the family experienced two bereavements in a short space of time.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Bernard Birch. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Bernard, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.