BIRCH, Arthur Alfred
Born 17 May 1890; died 19 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 28
Arthur Alfred BIRCH, known as Alfred, was born and raised in the Melbourne port suburb of Williamstown. He was one of at least seven children of Alexander or Alec (aka Isaac) Birch, and Eliza, his wife, whose maiden surname was also BIRCH. Alec was a master mariner.
On leaving school, Alfred followed his father into the merchant navy. He would have been just 14 when he was recorded as one of the crew of the Clan McLeod that entered Auckland in October 1904. Combining natural aptitude with hard work, he made good progress. By 1911, he had the rank of first mate square rig, meaning he would routinely take the daytime watch and work with the captain on navigation, keeping the logbook, chart-keeping, and overseeing the crew. In his competency test, he scored highly in navigation and seamanship. Two years later he had progressed to master square rig.
At the outbreak of war in Europe in August 1914, he enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force. He was then 24. Promoted to lance-corporal while still in training in Egypt, he had two short stints in hospital while the Australian troops were preparing for the assault on Gallipoli in early 1915. On the day of the attack Alfred was hit in the back of the neck by shrapnel. On regaining consciousness, he could not move his arms or head. Back in Egypt, he was in hospital for 78 days before a transfer to a convalescent home. Shortly after, a hospital ship took him back to Melbourne. He arrived in September 1915, just over a year since he enlisted.
He was still far from being recovered, with weak back and legs and unable to stand straight. Although more treatment led to some improvement, he was declared medically unfit and discharged in late February 1916.
In Australia, Alfred met recent English migrant Alice Andrews and in mid-1916 they had a son called Arthur Alexander. It is not clear when Alfred became well enough to resume his former occupation but a notice in the Shipping News column of the New Zealand Times on 12 November 1918 reported that ‘Captain Birch, late of the Huanui, is to be master of the Manaroa when she is recommissioned’.
That was not to be. Within perhaps a day or two of that column appearing and presumably while he was in Wellington waiting to take charge of the Manaroa, Alfred caught influenza. He died in the temporary hospital at Wellington College, aged 28.
Alfred’s Army file includes a note from Dr Alfred Newman who was working at the temporary hospital when Alfred was brought in. He gave his opinion that:
…his chest wounds and his generally weakened constitution owing to his wound and other hardships were the conditions which rendered his position so hopeless from the start… Experience teaches us that…weakened returned soldiers have a very poor chance when attacked by influenza or kindred troubles. When a weakened soldier comes here, I must confess my heart sinks at the prospects.
Alfred was buried in the Soldiers’ Section at Karori Cemetery, Plot 17C.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: SOLDIERS
Plot: 17 C
Born 17 May 1890; died 19 November 1918; buried 20 November 1918; age 28
Arthur Alfred BIRCH, known as Alfred, was born and raised in the Melbourne port suburb of Williamstown. He was one of at least seven children of Alexander or Alec (aka Isaac) Birch, and Eliza, his wife, whose maiden surname was also BIRCH. Alec was a master mariner.
On leaving school, Alfred followed his father into the merchant navy. He would have been just 14 when he was recorded as one of the crew of the Clan McLeod that entered Auckland in October 1904. Combining natural aptitude with hard work, he made good progress. By 1911, he had the rank of first mate square rig, meaning he would routinely take the daytime watch and work with the captain on navigation, keeping the logbook, chart-keeping, and overseeing the crew. In his competency test, he scored highly in navigation and seamanship. Two years later he had progressed to master square rig.
At the outbreak of war in Europe in August 1914, he enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force. He was then 24. Promoted to lance-corporal while still in training in Egypt, he had two short stints in hospital while the Australian troops were preparing for the assault on Gallipoli in early 1915. On the day of the attack Alfred was hit in the back of the neck by shrapnel. On regaining consciousness, he could not move his arms or head. Back in Egypt, he was in hospital for 78 days before a transfer to a convalescent home. Shortly after, a hospital ship took him back to Melbourne. He arrived in September 1915, just over a year since he enlisted.
He was still far from being recovered, with weak back and legs and unable to stand straight. Although more treatment led to some improvement, he was declared medically unfit and discharged in late February 1916.
In Australia, Alfred met recent English migrant Alice Andrews and in mid-1916 they had a son called Arthur Alexander. It is not clear when Alfred became well enough to resume his former occupation but a notice in the Shipping News column of the New Zealand Times on 12 November 1918 reported that ‘Captain Birch, late of the Huanui, is to be master of the Manaroa when she is recommissioned’.
That was not to be. Within perhaps a day or two of that column appearing and presumably while he was in Wellington waiting to take charge of the Manaroa, Alfred caught influenza. He died in the temporary hospital at Wellington College, aged 28.
Alfred’s Army file includes a note from Dr Alfred Newman who was working at the temporary hospital when Alfred was brought in. He gave his opinion that:
…his chest wounds and his generally weakened constitution owing to his wound and other hardships were the conditions which rendered his position so hopeless from the start… Experience teaches us that…weakened returned soldiers have a very poor chance when attacked by influenza or kindred troubles. When a weakened soldier comes here, I must confess my heart sinks at the prospects.
Alfred was buried in the Soldiers’ Section at Karori Cemetery, Plot 17C.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: SOLDIERS
Plot: 17 C