| Regimental number | 47 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Buckley, Flintshire, North Wales, United Kingdom |
| Place of birth | Buckley, Flintshire, Wales |
| Other Names | Frederick |
| School | St Matthew's Church School, Buckley, Flintshire, United Kingdom |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 22 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | c/o Mrs Cornelius, 18 King Street, Norwood, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 9.5" |
| Weight | 168 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mrs M Birks, Garden Cottage, Chester Road, Buckley, Flintshire, England |
| Previous military service | Served for 2 years in the Royal Artillery (Welsh), British Army. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 2nd Field Ambulance |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 26/45/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 6th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Recommendation date: Military Medal Recommendation date: Victoria Cross Posthumous recommendation Recommendation date: |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | 'He attended school for 11 years without being absent or late. He was always a bright, smart lad.' (James Dyson, St Matthew's School, Buckley) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Glencorse Wood, Ypres, Belgium |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | Perth Cemetery (Row I, Plot G, Grave 45) (China Wall) Zillebeke, Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 46 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Son of Samuel and Mary BIRKS. An extract from the Third Supplement to "The London Gazette" No 30372, of 8th November 1917, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when, accompanied by only a corporal, he rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2nd Lt Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party and attacked another strong point which was occupied by about twenty-five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganising parties of other units which had been disorganised during the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2nd Lt Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell."~ |
| Medals |
Victoria Cross 'For most conspicuous bravery in attack when accompanied only by a corporal, he rushed a strong point which was holding up the advance. The corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2nd Lieutenant Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organized a small party and attacked another strong point, which was occupied by about twenty five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganizing parties of other units which had been disorganized during the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2nd Lieutenant Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 110 Date: Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62 Date: |
| Family/military connections | Brother: Sergeant Samuel BIRKS MSM, Royal Artillery |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915. Wounded in action (slightly), 26 June 1915; returned to duty, 27 June 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 23 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 30 March 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal, 21 April 1916; Temporary Wagon Orderly Corporal, 5 August 1916; rank made substantive, 10 August 1916. Awarded Military Medal, 4 October 1916. Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 9 February 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin); transferred same day to Divisional Rest Station; discharged to duty and rejoined unit, 14 February 1917. Attached to 1st Division School, 28 February 1917. Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant with 6th Bn, 10 May 1917; taken on strength, 6th Bn, 12 May 1917. Awarded Victoria Cross. Killed in action, Belgium, 21 September 1917. Medals: Victoria Cross, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
