Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Albert BIRCHMORE

Distinguished Conduct Medal  

'From 25 February to 17 September 1918, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has rendered excellent service during most trying periods in the heavy fighting in which this battery has been engaged. His cheerfulness and gallantry have set an excellent example to the men in the battery. He has many times acted as battery sergeant major at the gun line, and has been of great assistance to his battery commander.'

The three local newspapers that operated in Bendigo during the Great War were dominated by news from the front. Soldiers letters were printed along with the grim news of the fate of local soldiers.

The Bendigo Independent Newspaper printed the following on July 12, 1916:  EXCITEMENT NEAR FIRING LINE - HORSE SHOT UNDER HIM.

An exciting experience is described by Corporal W. Birchmore of the Field Artillery, "Somewhere in France." in a letter to his parents. "I am now in the wagon (sic) lines," he writes, "and had to go up to the guns with provisions and ammunition. We reached the place, and a shell burst 60 yards in front of me, so I at once told my drivers to trot. There were two others just near, so I rode up told them to get while their luck was in. From the shell, which dropped near us, a piece of shrapnel hit one of the drivers on the head, killing him instantly. I only trotted 200 yards, as the shellfire was too hot, and I decided to get my men into a safe corner. The other driver asked me to wait. He said, "Ah, Birchy, be a good sport, and wait for me." So I waited. Just then a bullet went whizzing past, and found its mark in my poor horse's head. He went up into the air, and fell right over with me. The animal, however, fell from under me. I got my feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear. I again had to bring my drivers to another safe place. So we put on our gas helmets. About an hour afterwards I was going along the road, when some of our chaps rode up to me, shook hands, and said, "By God, Birchy, we thought you were killed." If I could go 'through the same every night I would do so, as I think it is real good fun. At one time we heard a Jack Johnson shell coming, and we had to 'gallop for our lives, or we would have been no more. I was carting ammunition up till 5.20 in the morning. We get quite used to at and all of us would go through anything now." Corporal Birchmore, in thanking his mother for a parcel forwarded to him, said the drivers and himself had a real royal time with the good things the parcel contained. He also states that for the first lime in his life he was shaved by a lady, who did a very clean job.’[1]

Later on December 7, 1916, the Bendigo Independent published the following: WOUNDED IN FRANCE: - CALIFORNIA GULLY SOLDIER.

Word has been received from the Defence Department, by Mrs. J. Birchmore, of Butler street, California Gully, that her son, Sergeant W . A. Birchmore, of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, has been wounded in France. Sergeant Birchmore left for the front in November, 1915. He was previous to enlisting employed by Messrs. Gordon and Sons, and was a well-known footballer, playing for Albion Imps. He celebrated his 21st birthday in the trenches.[2]

However, the newspapers did not always get it right. The same paper printed a photo of William with the caption, ‘Died of Wounds’ just nine days later. [3] This obviously led to a wave of consternation in California Gully and on the Monday the paper printed the following correction: -  WOUNDED, NOT DEAD.

‘A regrettable error occurred in our Saturday's issue. Above the photo of Sergeant W. A. Birchmore, of California Gully, it was stated that he had died of wounds. Sgt. Birchmore has been wounded, and we express our deepest regret for the pain that must have been caused to his relatives by the incorrect statement referred to.’[4]

Photo: Bendigo Independent o August 23, 1918. P.6.

Caption: Word has been received from the Defence Department by Mrs. J. Birchmore, Butler Street. California Gully, that her son, Sgt. W. A. Birchmore. of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade has been gassed, and classed as wounded (second occasion). Sgt. Birchmore sailed with Colonel Grimwade, and has been on active service three years.[5]

Service umber: 6515
Born: Bendigo June 14, 1995
Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Labourer
Address: Butter Street, California Gully
Marital status: Single
Age at enlistment: 20
Next of kin: Father, John W Birchmore, Butler Street, California Gully, Mother Elizabeth (Waters)                                         Enlistment date: 23 September 1915                                         Place of enlistment: Albert Park, Victoria

Rank on enlistment Corporal
Unit: Field Artillery Brigade 4, Battery 11
Embarked: HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915
Final Rank: Sergeant
DCM Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135
Date: 11 December 1919
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Date of death: 18 March 1965

Age at death: 69

Place of burial: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria

Action were recommendated for Bravery Award.

Somme - 25 February to 17 September 1918 .This period coincides with the weeks preceding the German Spring Offensive in early March 1918 through to the final weeks of battles involving Australian Divisions. German forces were stopped on April 25, 1918 at Villers - Bretonneaux by two Brigades of the AIF and then Allied forces progressively pushed the Germans back over 100 days to their Hindenburg Line fortress with Australians spearheading the attack. 

[1] Bendigo Independent Newspaper July 12, 1916: P.6
[2] Bendigo Independent Newspaper, December 7, 1916. P.5
[3] Bendigo Independent Newspaper December 16, 1916. P.3
[4] Bendigo Independent Newspaper December 18, 1916 P.6
[5] Bendigo Independent on August 23, 1918. P.6