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Harold Birch
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 26/09/1896 |
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Place of birth: Salford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Salford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Driller |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 203826 |
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Enlistment place: Salford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Lancashire Fusiliers, 1/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: X Row: F Grave: 18 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harold Birch was the son of Henry and Margaret Birch. He was born on 26 September 1896 in Salford, Lancashire, where he continued to live. Before the war, he worked as a driller. Harold enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (125th Brigade, 42th (East Lancashire) Division).
Harold was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench awaiting the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their assault. Simultaneously, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Skirmishes occurred throughout the day, with machine-gun fire coming, among other places, from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to retreat to its original line. The right flank held its position and consolidated their positions, which lay between Frost House and Vampir.
Harold died at the age of 20. After the war, his body was found near Frezenberg. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Harold was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench awaiting the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their assault. Simultaneously, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Skirmishes occurred throughout the day, with machine-gun fire coming, among other places, from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to retreat to its original line. The right flank held its position and consolidated their positions, which lay between Frost House and Vampir.
Harold died at the age of 20. After the war, his body was found near Frezenberg. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 4
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1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers war dairy (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95 95/2654/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Manchester, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915. https://www.manchester.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.72-73. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461949 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9847da4c-f808-4fab-89b2-efda277d608a |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/347835 |