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Sgt. William Horrocks Birch
British Army 11th Btn, D Company Cheshire Regiment
from:Wallsey, Cheshire
William Horrocks Birch joined up at the age of 35 as soon as war was declared against the Germans. He was living with his parents at Wallasey, Cheshire, just across the Mersey River from Liverpool. He was a photographer by trade.
He fought in a number of battles, including the Battle of the Somme on 1st of July 1916. He and his company charged the enemy lines. He survived the first day. They were then brought to a barn to rest. Only 33 men out of their original 250 were left. Their rest was short-lived as they were suddenly taken back to the front line and ordered to charge. This time, however, when he climbed over the top and down to charge, his knee twisted and he could not continue. His knee swelled to the point that he was taken back to England for treatment.
After this, he was assigned to General Allenby's army in the Middle East and flew as a Royal Flying Corp aerial photographer in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. After the war, he married and had a family, living in Wrexham, North Wales until his death.
