Harold Henry Bird
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold Henry Bird was born in 1890 at Lenton, he was the son of the late Henry an inn keeper and Annie Alice Bird, née Taylor of 1 Captain Ball V.C. Memorial Homes Sherwin Road Lenton Nottingham. Henry was born in 1856 at Lowick, Northamptonshire, he died in 1908 aged 59 yrs, Annie Alice Taylor was born in 1858 at Mansfield, they were married in 1879 at Mansfield, they went on to have 10 children, sadly 1 died in infancy or early childhood. In the 1911 census the family are living at 39 Bradgate Road, Forest Fields, Nottingham, Annie Alice is head of the family she is a widow and 54 yrs of age, she is living with her children, Annie Alic 22 yrs a packer, Martha Rachel 18 yrs a lace carder, George Edmund 13 yrs a levers lace draughtsman, Ethel Mabel 11 yrs a school girl.
Private Harold Henry Bird enlisted at Nottingham whilst residing at Sherwood, he served wit the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He landed in France on 4th November 1914 and died of wounds on 4th May 1915, he is buried at Le Trou and Post Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France. Bird went to France with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and it is likely he was either a regular or reservist. It would appear that he was wounded on 29th April 1915 - war diary entry - ' 29th Weather perfect. Enemy shelled our reserve Company's billets about 3.30 pm. Roughly 20 shells fell in batches or three. 1 killed and 1 wounded'. He was buried in the Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery Fleurbaix, grave C.2.
Nottingham Post obituary (abridged) and photograph, 14 June 1915: 'Private H Bird, 1st Sherwood Foresters, Gregory Street, Old Lenton, killed in action May 5th (sic) aged 25.'A man with the number 10579 (2 from Harold) joined up 10 December 1912: Albert Ball VC, DSO and 2 bars, MC - raised in Nottingham and joined 2/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters. Moved to RFC and had 44 victories. Killed 7 May 1917.Research John Morse
