Herbert Arthur Bird
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Herbert Arthur's birth was recorded in Jul/Aug/Sep 1884, although his service record gives his date of birth as 'abt. 1885'. He was the son of Herbert and Mary A Bird; Mary had died by the time of the 1911 census. In 1891 Herbert, who worked as a railway porter, and Mary were living at 57 Randolph Street with their four children: William (18) who was described as a 'private soldier (RA)', Albert (12), who worked for a railway company, Herbert (6) and Gertrude (1), known as 'Gerty'. They were still living at the same address in 1901 but only Herbert and Gertrude were still in the household. There was also a boarder, William Bird (70), who also employed as a railway porter. In 1911, Herbert (59), now a widower, was still living with his two children, Herbert Arthur (27) and Gertrude (21) at 57 Randolph Street Nottingham. Herbert attested on 19 May 1915, giving his next of kin as his father, Herbert, now of 2 Aberdeen Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. He married Kate Andrew Archer (nee Spencer) a few months later on 9 August 1915 at a register office. He and his wife lived at 6 Park Place, Park Street, Nottingham.
26189 Private Herbert Arthur Bird attested on 19 May 1915 when he was 30 years 11 months old. His medical examination records his height as 5 feet 6 inches. He was posted to 3rd Reserve Battalion on 27 May but on arrival in Gallipoli on 14 November 1915 he joined the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). On withdrawing from Gallipoli the battalion spent six months in Egypt on the Suez Canal. The battalion transferred to France at the end of June 1916 (the medal roll gives his date in theatre as 28 June) and served on the Arras front. The battalion fought on the Somme and at Messines prior to the move to the Ypres Salient. In July 1917 it held trenches forward of the Iser canal then at 4am on 21 August 1917 the battalion had to provide carrying parties for the front line; it was virtually impossible to move anything other than by the use of manpower as the whole Salient was thick with mud and water-filled shell holes. During this work, nine men from 'C' company were wounded and one man, Herbert Arthur, was killed. Herbert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. His total service was 2 years 95 days; he qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. John Morse
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