BIRCH, John Bright
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Medical Officers |
| Born: | Glenelg. SA, 1 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Private tuition, University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | 1975, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
St Judes Cemetery, Brighton, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Australian Army Medical Corps (WW2) | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1915: | Involvement Captain, Medical Officers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1915: | Embarked Captain, Medical Officers, HMAT Kanowna, Sydney |
Award to Glenelgite
THE MILITARY CROSS.
AWARDED TO A GLENELGITE.
CAPT. JOHN BRIGHT BIRCH.
Glenelg lads have played and are still playing a prominent part in the great war
since August 1914. Hundreds have volunteered and gone forth to do battle for King and Country. Many have returned maimed and wrecked in health and up to date over 50 have "made the greatest sacrifice of all—
have given their lives.
Several have gained distinctions on the battlefield, and have been mentioned in dispatches, and in other ways have added lustre to the seaside town. The latest to add to the glory of " the boys," is Captain John Bright Birch, of the 12th Australian Field Ambulance, who, according to the cable announcement on Tuesday, has been awarded the Military Cross for service in France.
Unfortunately details of the services rendered which gained for the gallant captain such honor are not to hand yet. Captain Birch (who is a brother to our esteemed and, respected Ald. Birch) is a native of Glenelg, having been born at the premier watering place 26 years ago. He is the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Birch, who now reside at Parkside. Captain Birch left South Australia on December 17, 1915, and spent some months in Egypt, prior to being transferred to France. On October 17 of last year Captain Birch received the following :—
Major-General Sir H. V. Cox, K.C.M.G, C.B., C.S.F., commanding 4th Australian
Division, congratulates Captain John Bright Birch, 15th Australian Field Ambulance, on his devotion to duty on the Somme, August - September, 1916."
The " Guardian'' congratulates the recipient of such high distinction, also the proud parents and family, Signaller C. M. Birch, who enlisted with the 17th Battalion in N.S. W. is also on active service in France. He is the eldest son.
Glenelg Guardian Thursday 04 January 1917 page 2
Submitted 8 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Military Cross
For general good work during the operations near POZIERES between 27.7.16 and 15.9.16
Submitted 8 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography
Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors
John Bright Birch was born on the 1st December 1890 at Glenelg, South Australia, the son of John William Birch (and Kate nee McINTYRE) . He was educated by private tuition at Semaphore, South Australia. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide where he graduated in 1915.
Birch enlisted in the AIF and was commissioned in September 1915. He was single, 25 years old, 5ft 9ins tall weighed 150lbs, medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His father of Park Terrace, Eastwood South Australia was named next of kin. He embarked for the Middle East in December for General Duties. He was assigned to 4 FdAmb on arrival, only to be reassigned to 12 FdAmb two weeks later. He went to France with the unit in June 1916, and 29th December 1916 was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous service rendered at Pozières between July and September when the FdAmb was heavily engaged. He was ill whilst on leave in December in England, and on his return to France in January was kept at 1 AGH for two months before he was allowed to rejoin 12 Fd Amb. He had a brief detachment to 46 Bn during May 1917, and from August to December served as RMO of 51 Bn. He was posted to 3AGH at Abbeville in February 1918, and in September 1918 he was promoted to Major and sent to the POW cage as MO for a month. After the Armistice he was transferred to 14 FdAmb until March 1919. He was granted study leave for six months and completed a residency at the Queen’s Hospital, Birmingham. He was repatriated in November 1919 with his appointment terminated on the 7th March 1920. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Birch entered general practice in South Australia on his return. He worked at various locations including Unley and Renmark. During World War I, the corner of Urrbrae Ave and Ferguson Ave, Myrtle Bank became a Repatriation Hospital for tuberculosis and although much of the property has been subdivided the house and its garden remain as part of the War Veterans’ Home. The Duke and Duchess Gloucester were met by Dr. J. Birch during a visit to the Hospital in May 1927. He was at 99 Fullarton Rd, Unley by 1932. He was Commanding Officer of 3 FdAmb at Keswick in 1932-33. In 1933 he decided to specialize in surgery, and went to Scotland to obtain his surgical fellowship. On his return to Australia he worked first at Richmond NSW, and then settled at Tweed Heads where he also became the GMO. During WW2 he moved to Sydney. He later returned to South Australia. John Bright Birch died in Adelaide in 1975.
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