This is the third Military Medal I have found to a recipient with my family surname. In this case it’s 26871 Private W. Birchall. William served in the 2nd Batallion, 5th South Lancashire Regiment in France.
Archive for WW1
A Birchall MM Winner in WW1
Posted in Family Groups & Singles, Valour Medals with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, Valour Medals, WW1 on July 18, 2026 by The DudeA Birchall Invalided out of the Great War
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Army Service Corps, Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on November 21, 2025 by The DudeThis is a common scenario for me. I find another family member’s medal but it’s an orphan. Especially true of the WW1 pairs. I often end up with either the BWM or the VM. Not often both of them. It makes me wonder how they got split up. In this case it’s a humble BWM for John Burchell, T-313914, a private in the Army Service Corps. John was also entitled to the SWB 392607. He was invalided from the Army on under Paragraph 392 (xvi) 2(b)i, sickness. Looking at his discharge papers its apparent his eyesight had begun to fail. His medical report shows a man with numerous wear and tear injuries. I think the Army just wore him out. He was 37 when he was discharged, too old for the game.
A Birchall Orphan to the RFA in WW1
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, Royal Field Artillery, United Kingdom, WW1 on October 29, 2024 by The DudeThings have been a bit quiet in my search for Birchalls or their relatives lately. After a good start to the year here we have a lonely orphan impressed to L/20254 Bmbdr. F.Burchell R.A.
Frederick was born in 1893 and signed up on the 26th of April, 1915. He entered France on the 13th of December, 1915. It seems, aside from some illness in 1916, that Frederick made it all the way through the war.
WW1 Bahawalpur Service Medal
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals with tags Pakistan, United Kingdom, WW1 on August 12, 2024 by The Dude
Right now I am gathering a collection of British Empire WW1 service medals. Aside from the usual subjects there’s this one, issued by the Nawab of Bahawalpur, now part of Pakistan. The men of this Regiment served in the Middle East against the Turks and then later on punitive expeditions on the NW Frontier. This example is named to Carpenter Chillum Mohammad, Bahawalpur Transport Corps.
A Birchall in the Manchester Regiment
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, France, United Kingdom, WW1 on June 23, 2024 by The DudeThis group belonged to J. Birchall 1814, a private in the Manchester Regiment. He entered France on the 6th June 1915 and was demobilised on the 29th of January 1919.
British Allied Subjects Medal
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Rare Medals, Valour Medals with tags United Kingdom, Valour Medals, WW1 on June 22, 2024 by The DudeThis is a rare medal and hard to find. The Allied Subjects’ Medal was a British decoration, distributed by the Foreign Office, to citizens of allied and neutral countries who gave assistance to British and Commonwealth soldiers, mainly escaped prisoners of war, behind enemy lines between 1914–1918.
In WW2 this medal was replaced by the Kings Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom
Another Birchall, killed on the Somme
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, The Battle of the Somme, United Kingdom, WW1 on June 22, 2024 by The DudeThis is the Victory Medal for Private J. Birchall of the Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire) Regiment, 4100. He entered France on the 4th of September and he was killed in action on the 9th of August 1916 and is buried at the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-Le-Sec.
A Birchall Captured in the March 1918 Offensive
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles, Medallions & Badges with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on October 12, 2023 by The DudeA simple one here. This is the Silver War Badge issued to 49532 Private Arthur John Birchall from the Lincoln Regiment. Arthur was captured at Kemmel on 15th April 1918 and held in Westfront and Friedrichsfeld POW Camp.
A Birchall on the Western Front with the Suffolks
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on March 11, 2023 by The DudeSeems I have a bit of a flush of Birchall’s this year. My 65th Birchall is a WW1 pair to G.J. Burchell 57346 of the Suffolk Regiment. George John Birchall was moved later to the Northamptonshire Regiment and then to the A.S.C. likely as he aged out.
A Longserving Birchall in the South Lancashire Regiment
Posted in 1901-1913 Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on March 4, 2023 by The DudeInteresting orphan off EBay. This Long Service in the Volunteer Force Medal was awarded to Corporal William Birchall, 6889, 2V.B. South Lancashire Regiment. William had served 20 years by 1908 in this regiment and reenlisted as a regular in the same regiment in 1908. He served through the First World War, being discharged due to age on the 29th of September 1917 at the rank of C.S.M (age 48).
A Birchall, Career Cop, with an ISM
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on February 18, 2023 by The DudeThese medals are always pretty difficult to identify, just a name and a king to go by. Luckily George V didn’t live that long and I find a John Burchill, Protective Officer of London being gazetted on the 1st of October 1914. For long service and likely a retirement award. A Protective Officer was similar to a police officer but working for one of the large ports within Customs and Revenue.
Death Scroll to a Birchall, Dead at Gallipoli
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on February 18, 2023 by The DudeA poignant item named to Alfred Burchell who served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry Plymouth Bn as a Private. He died of wounds at 7am on the 28th of May 1915 in 15th General Hospital Alexandria. He suffered a GSW in the left shoulder deemed dangerous, at ‘Y’ Beach, Gallipoli two days earlier on the 26th leading to the amputation of his left arm). He is buried at Chatby War Memorial Cemetery (Egypt 6). He was ex-1826 Private 4th Bn. Somerset Territorials, enlisted 8/4/1913 (later transferred to RMLI) ; Plymouth Bn. at Dunkirk & Defence of Antwerp 1914 ; MEF 6/2/15-28/5/15 DD. PLY/16337 Son of Mrs. Frances H. Burchell, of Hillside Cottages, Bleadon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. 1914 Star issued to father 31/10/19.
A Birchall in the Cheshire Regiment
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on August 22, 2022 by The DudeThis medal group belonged to a Peter Birchall. The group is impressed to 51660 PTE. P.BIRCHALL CHES. REG. Peter was enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment in 1915 and demob’d at the end of the year. He was redrafted into the Labour Corps and served the rest of the war there.
A Birchall in the South Wales Borderers
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on August 22, 2022 by The DudeThis lonely orphan BWM is all I have to commemorate James Burchall. The medal is impressed to 683648 PTE J.BURCHALL S.W.B. James was initially mobilized into the South Wales Borderers (15116) in 1914 and served there until he was released to the Labour Corps in 1917. He was 29 and a labourer from Barrow in Lancashire. He was entitled to the Victory medal and the 1914-1915 Star, both lost to time. From his records he served in Salonika in Greece as well as in France, as a farrier. He was pensioned due to illness from malaria and dysentary.
A Royal Navy Birchall Stoker in WW1
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, Royal Navy, United Kingdom, WW1 on March 11, 2022 by The DudeThis pair of WW1 service medals appeared off EBay. They are impressed for K46500 R. BURCHALL STO.1 R.N. Richard was born on 30th September 1892 in Wigan in Lancashire. He was a bricklayer by trade. His K prefix on his number shows that he was transferred from the Army upon enlistment to the Royal Navy on the 19th of October 1917. His first ship was HMS Vivid on the 31st of December 1917. His final posting was on HMS Dido, a cruiser, before being discharged on the 19th of February 1919.
A Birchall, Too Old for the Trenches
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, France, United Kingdom, WW1 on January 15, 2022 by The DudeThis is a lonely little orphan Victory Medal for Pioneer James Burchell of the Royal Engineers. The medal is engraved 110501 PNR.J.BURCHELL R.E. James enlisted voluntarily on August 14th 1915 at the age of 46. While this seems old for the time he did indicate 5 years prior service with the Royal Sussex Regiment. James was retired sick and no longer fit for service on the 31st of July 1916. He was entitled to the SWB #236,996.
A Birchall in the Royal Fusiliers in France
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on October 6, 2021 by The DudeThis group is the usual suspects for a mid war soldier in France. These three were awarded to Alfred Charles Burchell. They are impressed to K-1445 PTE A Burchell, R.Fus. Alfred disembarked into France on 17th November 1915. On the 8th of July 1919 he was released into Z Pool, basically a civilian again.
Another Birchall in the Liverpool Regiment
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on October 6, 2021 by The DudeThis lonely little Orphan is the BWM, or British War Medal for Private Harold Birchall. The medal is impressed to 330057 PTE. H. BIRCHALL . L’POOL R. At some point Harold was transferred to the Labour Corps and issued a second number, 325057.
An Old Contemptible In The Sussex Regiment
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on October 6, 2021 by The DudeHere’s a nice WW1 group to an early arriver in France. Impressed to 9095 L.Cpl H.W.BURCHELL 2/R SUSS:R. & L-9095 T.SGT H.W.BURCHELL R.SUSS.R. This man landed in France on the 12th of August 1914 and has the November Bar on his 1914 Star to show it.
A Postcard from France
Posted in Paper with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on January 21, 2021 by The DudeWhen the British soldiers reached France in 1914 & 15 many of them sent these embroidered postcards home to their family and friends. Usually pretty bland in content they are a very period specific bit of tourist kitsch.
This one is from a Henry Birchall to his sister “E” in Southport in Lancashire. It reads…
Dear Sister
I am pleased to hear that your Father Mother is keeping in good health. they will think I have forgot them because I have not wrote to them for a long time. I will … them a line just to let them no that I have not forgot them. So good by, till we meet again.
An Orphan for a Birchall MM Winner
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on January 14, 2021 by The DudeWhen I find a Birchall impressed medal out there on the Intertubes I am always pretty stoked. Sometimes it’s an orphan, a medal that has been split from its group. This one is particularly poignant as it belonged to a Military Medal winner, 685885 GNR J.Birchall, RA. James Birchall was gazetted for the Military Medal on the 4th of February 1918. I also found him listed as wounded on the War office casualty lists for July 9th 1918.
A Birchall killed on the 1st Day of the Somme
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on August 5, 2020 by The Dude
A sad little orphan 1914-15 Star. Impressed to Private William Burchell, 17691, of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. William entered France on the 15th of October 1915 and was killed in action on the 1st of July at Thiepval on the Somme. I have some German ball shrapnel from the same area. Thiepval was an abattoir on that day although the Berkshires reached their objectives on schedule. William was 33 on the day he was killed. He is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial. Coincidentally a Sergeant in the Lancashire Regt named identically was also killed at Thiepval on the same day.
An Embroidered Postcard from France
Posted in Paper with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on February 23, 2020 by The DudeThese postcards were very popular, especially with the British troops, during WW1. This particular one has a personal connection being sent by a soldier with the surname of Birchall.
“With my best wishes to you and all in Garston. Yours with kind regards, L. Cpl J. Birchall.”
It is sent to a Nellie Tomas in Garston. Likely one I found in Garston on Ancestry, born in 1900. No sign of a marriage tho so Romeo was unsuccessful.
A Birchall in the Liverpool Regiment
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on February 22, 2020 by The DudeAnother ordinary pair of Squeak and Wilfred, the two most common ww1 service medals. These belonged to Private 202702 John Birchall of the Liverpool Regiment.
A Birchall, Died a POW in Germany
Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Death Penny, Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom, WW1 on December 24, 2019 by The DudeThis Death Penny belonged to Sidney Burchell, a Private in the 7th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Regiment. Sydney died from illness while a prisoner in Germany on the 26th of June 1918. This is likely not his actual death date as the POW rolls have him dying on the 20th of June. Sidney enlisted in Chichester, initially as TR/10/6344 in a Training Reserve Battalion, probably the 23rd based in Shoreham, although Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919 probably erroneously states the 2nd. Later he became Rifleman A/205284 in the 7th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, part of the Army’s 14th Division.
Sidney was taken prisoner on 21 March 1918 and held at Camp Stendal, Prussia. He died of kidney infection while in captivity on 20 June 1918 aged 19. [Some current records state he died on 26 June which is likely to be the date of his burial.]
He was buried in grave V.A.11 at the Hautmont Communal Cemetery. Hautmont had been captured by the Germans in the early days of World War 1. The communal cemetery was used by the German troops for the burial of their dead. The Allied prisoners who died in the local German hospitals were buried there too by the authorities of the town.
Sidney is also commemorated on the Lodsworth war memorial.
Kiwi Medals 