Thomas Birrell

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Gravestone photo source: Thierry Briere, FindaGrave.com

Thomas (Tom) Birrell was born circa 1921, the son of Thomas and Margaret Birrell (née MacLeod) who had married in the Parish Church of St. John’s, Glasgow on the 16th of July 1920. Thomas Birrell Snr had served in WW1. He'd enlisted on the 28th February 1916 and was demobilised on the 28th January 1919.

The young family are first seen on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921. They were living at 4, Ardenlea Street, Glasgow. Thomas Birrell was head of the household and was aged 28 years and 4 months old and a Coal Miner for the United Collieries Ltd. He had ben born in Baillieston, Lanarkshire. His wife, Margaret Birrell was 26 years and 8 months old and doing ‘House Duties’ and born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Baby Tom Birrell was aged 7 months old and born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

The next time we see Tom Birrell is when he enlisted or was conscripted, into the Royal Engineers on the 16th of January 1941, age 20 years. He was serving with 263 Field Company, Royal Engineers who landed on Sword Beach D-Day. Their first role was to help with clearing German beach obstacles but, due to difficulties in crossing, they landed 1.5 hours later than planned. By this time the tide was too high to carry out obstacle clearance, so they were assigned to work on clearing beach exits and laying track to try to relieve the congestion on the beach. They then proceeded inland to carry out the clearance of the landing strips.

At first Tom Birrell was reported missing on D-Day and his Royal Engineers Casualty Card tells us that he was reported missing believed wounded. A notification to that effect was sent to his family on the 26th June but on the 2nd August they were notified that he had died of wounds at some point between the 6th and 7th June. Shortly after, his father placed a notice in the Coatbridge Leader on the 12th August.

Thomas Birrell was obviously well loved as his family had this inscription put on his gravestone:

GOD HATH TAKEN
OUR DEARLY LOVED ONE
FROM OUR HOME
BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

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