John Bright BIRCH MC

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
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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

Biography

Published Biography

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3 Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WW1

Additional Biography

Early Life

John Bright Birch was born on 1 December 1890, the son of John William Birch and Kate McIntyre (SA Birth Registration 470/212). He had a sister and four brothers.

Schooling
John studied by private tuition and passed his Senior Examinations in December 1909 and Special Senior Examinations in March 1910 followed by Special Examinations for those intending to study medicine in March 1911.

University
John commenced his studies at Adelaide University in 1911 and graduated MB BS in 1915.

University Sport

Football

John played football for the newly formed Adelaide University B Grade team (1913) in the Adelaide and Suburban Association.

Rowing

In 1911 John competed for the University in the Henley-on-Torrens regatta, rowing in the Maiden Tubs.

Athletics

John won the 220 yards flat race at the Adelaide University Athletic Club Sports in June 1912.

Lacrosse

In 1915 John played B Grade Lacrosse for the University.

World War I

John enlisted on the 1st December 1915 and his WWI service is well documented in the “Blood, Sweat and Fears” biography.

Career and Family Life

On his return from the War John was appointed a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital. In November 1920 John was locum tenens for Dr LA Hayward at Berri and in 1921 he commenced general practice at Renmark and was appointed honorary medical officer for the Renmark District Hospital and the radiographer at the Hospital. John purchased a Dodge Brothers car in June 1921.

While at Renmark John was a Vice-President of the Renmark Rowing Club, honorary surgeon for a boxing match and surgeon for the Renmark Racing Club. His main sport during while at Renmark was golf. John resigned from his roles as Honorary Medical Officer and radiographer at the Renmark Hospital in April 1924 and it was reported he was considering a trip to the United Kingdom. On leaving Renmark John received a presentation from the Oddfellows Lodge.

In July 1924 John commenced practice at 99 Fullarton Road, Fullarton. His mother, Catherine died on 9th March 1925. In April 1925 John was appointed Medical Officer for League of Frontiersmen. John remained involved in military matters and was in charge of the field hygiene section at the Gawler Military Camp in February 1928.

In 1929 John married Edna May Speed. Their son was born on the 30th July 1930.

John also played golf when back in the city and played in the SA branch of the BMA competition in 1929 -1932. In December 1929 he was appointed honorary anaesthetists at Adelaide Hospital. In October 1930 John attended the Field Ambulance Reunion. John was still actively involved in the Army Medical Corps in 1932 when he transferred from the 8th Field Hygiene section to the 3rd Field Ambulance. In addition to golf, John also played Bridge. In late 1932 John left for Great Britain for more than a year returning in January 1934.

By April 1934 John he had commenced a practice at Tweed Heads, NSW. While at Tweed Heads, John and Edna’s daughter Margaret was born on the 1st November 1934. In January 1935 John was appointed the Government Medical Officer at Tweed Heads. John continued to play golf and was actively involved in the RSL and a trustee of the Memorial Reserve. In November 1936 he warned the township that their water supply was inadequate and obsolete. John was appointed local medical repatriation officer and war pensions referee for the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads district in September 1937. In February 1938 John took on the role of ship’s surgeon on the ‘Hieuw Holland’ on a two month round trip from Melbourne. His wife joined him for part of the trip.

Shortly after the outbreak of WW2 John and his family moved to Sydney where John had a practice at Crow’s Nest. John’s father (John William Birch) passed away in September 1940.

In December 1946 the family left for a trip to the UK. In December 1948 John, Edna and Margaret visited friends in Tweed Heads before motoring to Caboolture (Moreton Bay Region of Queensland) where John had purchased a practice.

The 1954 Electoral Roll shows that John (aged 64) was living at Revesby, in the Canterbury-Bankstown area of Sydney, NSW. Both the 1958 and 1963 the Electoral Rolls showed that John had moved to Earlwood, (also in the Canterbury Bankstown area) however by 1968 he had moved to Beecroft in the northern districts of Sydney. By this time John was 78 years of age.

By 1972 John and Edna moved back to Adelaide and were living in the Glenelg area.

Death

John died in 1975 (aged 85) and his wife died in 1983. They are buried at St. Jude's Anglican Cemetery, Brighton.

John’s younger brother, Dr Hugh Birch was a founding member of the Australasian Association of Psychiatrists (AAP) and President in 1952. He started his psychiatric career in 1926 and retired as Director of Medical Health Parkside Mental Hospital in Adelaide in 1961.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.




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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

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Military Cross

For general good work during the operations near POZIERES between 27.7.16 and 15.9.16

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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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