Birch, Percy Vincent

14986 Private Percy Vincent Birch MM - 1st Field Ambulance

Percy Vincent Birch was born in Fremantle WA in 1892 to William and Caroline Birch. He had five siblings, Adelaide 1882, Ivy (1886), Harold (1889), Violet (1894) and William (1896). He had his first few years in Fremantle but then the family moved to Midland Junction, where Pery was educated at the local state school.

After leaving school Percy took up a wagon building apprenticeship with the WA Government Railways workshop in Midland. This apprenticeship was of five years duration and during this time Percy had also served for three years in the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces.

When Percy finished his apprenticeship he qualified as a Wagon Builder and continued work for the WA Government Railways.

On the 17th January 1916 Percy enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches;

Weight - 142lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Hazel;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.45 Training Depot. He spent a few weeks here being taken through the basics of infantry work but on the 1st February 1916 he was transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps.

He then spent the next few months on hospital/medical duties in the various army camps in WA.

On the 9th August 1916 Percy left Fremantle with a group of medical corps reinforcements aboard the transport ship HMAT Miltiades and set sail for England. After arriving in England Percy was sent to a medical corps camps at Woodcote Park in Epsom.

On the 30th November 1916 Percy was sent to France and on the 10th December 1916 he was taken on strength of the 1st Australian Field Ambulance. This unit was then on the Somme battlefield front where they were kept busy treating and evacuating casualties from battle wounds and sickness.

The 1st Field Ambulance were on the Somme battlefield till February 1917, then as a result of the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line they went forward to Bapaume and the Hindenburg Line outpost villages where several sharp battles occurred for the 1st Infantry Brigade in March and April 1917.

Percy was kept busy helping to evacuate casualties through this time and at Bullecourt in May 1917.

After the Bullecourt action the 1st Australian Division was given a three month period out of the line. Much of this time was taken up by training and sporting activities. Percy and the 1st Field Ambulance didn't got back to the front line until September 1917.

They would now take part in the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium. On the 20th September 1917 the 1st Field Ambulance were supporting their infantry operations during the Battle of Menin Road. For his actions this day Percy was decorated with the award of the Military Medal. The official recommendation reads;

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the afternoon of September 21st 1917 during very heavy enemy shelling at the Culvert on Menin Road east of Ypres, Pte Birch, went out, dressed, and carried in wounded throughout the whole of the bombardment.

Percy survived this action unscathed and continued with his unit at subsequent operation at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele through October and November 1917.

In December 1917 Percy was granted a two week furlough to England. Upon his return he continued to work with his unit in Belgium from January to March 1918.

As a result of the Germans Spring Offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British line further south in France, the five Australian Divisions were then sent south to help stop this German advance. The 1st Division was the last to leave Belgium and had just reached Amiens by train when news came through that the Germans had also broken through in Belgium from where they had just come from, so the 1st Australian Division was turned around and sent back north.

The 1st Australian Division came into contact with the Germans around Nieppe Forrest, Hazebrouck and Strazeele. From April until July 1918 Percy and his unit were busy evacuating casualties as the Australians and Germans fought over French towns such as Merris and Meteren.

In August 1918 Percy and his unit were transferred to the Villers-Bretonneux sector where they joined the rest of the Australian Corps. From August to September 1918 the 1st Field Ambulance were supporting their infantry operations as the Germans were being pushed back.

After the September 18th 1918 action the 1st Australian Division was pulled out of the line and given a well deserved rest period. They were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on November 11th 1918.

In December 1918 Percy was given a leave period to England and was able to celebrate Christmas and New Year there before returning to his unit in France in January 1919.

Percy remained in France until the 17th April 1919. He was then returned to England in preparation of returning home. On the 1st June 1919 Percy boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

Percy was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd August 1919. On his return Percy took up carpentry and continued to work for the WA Government Railways.

On his return from the war in 1919 Percy married Mary Josephine McGuire in Subiaco. They had a son William born in 1920 and another son Douglas in 1924.

Sadly, Percy's wife Mary died in 1933.

In 1938 Percy married Vera Constance Watts. They lived in Churchill Avenue Subiaco.

Percy Vincent Birch died in Geraldton on the 12th May 1954 aged 62. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Wesleyan IC 0307.