BUCKLEY - FLINTSHIRE - WALES
Photos: Bill Rosedale
2nd Lieutenant Frederick BIRKS 47 V.C. & M.M.
Born: 16-8-1894, Buckley, Flintshire, Wales Enlisted: 18-8-1914, Melbourne, Victoria 6th Battalion Australian Infantry (late No. 2 Field Ambulance) Killed in Action: 21-9-1917 aged 23years Resting: Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Ypres, Flanders, Belgium Son of Samuel & Mary Birks Honoured Australian War Memorial Panel 46 |
Awarded Military Medal (London Gazette, 16-11-1916)
10-6-1916 -Carrying wounded single handed under shell and rifle fire from the firing line from positions where it was impossible to take stretchers at ANZAC on 25th April 1915. Devotion to duty and good work, carrying wounded from the firing line under heavy rifle and shell fire at Cape Helles on May 8th 1915.
9-9-1916 At Pozieres, France, on 26th July 1916 L/Cpl Birks continually led his squad of stretcher bearers through Pozieres Wood and Village from the front line, many of the regimental stretcher bearers being out of action. He was exposed to heavy shell fire the whole time.
Awarded V.C. posthumously (London Gazette, 8-11-1917)
For most conspicuous bravery in attack when, accompanied by only a corporal, he rushed a strong-point which was holding up the advance. The Corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2/Lieut. Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party, and attacked another strong-point which was occupied by about twenty-five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganizing parties of other units which had been disorganized during the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2/Lieutenant Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell.
10-6-1916 -Carrying wounded single handed under shell and rifle fire from the firing line from positions where it was impossible to take stretchers at ANZAC on 25th April 1915. Devotion to duty and good work, carrying wounded from the firing line under heavy rifle and shell fire at Cape Helles on May 8th 1915.
9-9-1916 At Pozieres, France, on 26th July 1916 L/Cpl Birks continually led his squad of stretcher bearers through Pozieres Wood and Village from the front line, many of the regimental stretcher bearers being out of action. He was exposed to heavy shell fire the whole time.
Awarded V.C. posthumously (London Gazette, 8-11-1917)
For most conspicuous bravery in attack when, accompanied by only a corporal, he rushed a strong-point which was holding up the advance. The Corporal was wounded by a bomb, but 2/Lieut. Birks went on by himself, killed the remainder of the enemy occupying the position, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party, and attacked another strong-point which was occupied by about twenty-five of the enemy, of whom many were killed and an officer and fifteen men captured. During the consolidation this officer did magnificent work in reorganizing parties of other units which had been disorganized during the operations. By his wonderful coolness and personal bravery 2/Lieutenant Birks kept his men in splendid spirits throughout. He was killed at his post by a shell whilst endeavouring to extricate some of his men who had been buried by a shell.
Port Adelaide News (S.A.) 30-11-1917
LIEUTENANT F. BIRKS, V.C., KILLED.
Second-Lieutenant Frederick Birks, V.C., and Military Medallist, was killed in action in France on September 20. Lieutenant Birks was born and educated in Buckley. North Wales. He came to South Australia in 1913, and resided at Largs Bay. He left for Melbourne and enlisted as a private at the outbreak of war. He sailed with the First Expediton, and was in the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. He was slightly wounded, but soon returned to duty, and remained until the evacuation. In France he gained the Military Medal and his commission. Lieutenant Birks was 22 years old. He had a kind and genial disposition and was loved by all. During the early part of his life he was actively connected with the North Wales Church Boys' Brigade, and was a communicant of St. Matthew's Church, Buckley, in the parish of Hawarden, where Mr. Gladstone often officiated. He won the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery. Accompanied only by a corporal, he rushed a strong point and held up an advance. One bomb wounded the corporal, but Lieutenant Birks went on, killed the remainder of the enemy, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party, attacked another strong point occupied by 25 of the enemy, of whom one officer and 15 men were captured, and the rest killed. During the consolidation Lieutenant Birks did magnificent work in reorganising parties of other units by his wonderful coolness and personal bravery. He was killed at the post by a shell while endeavoring to extricate some of his men. He was buried by the explosion of a shell.
LIEUTENANT F. BIRKS, V.C., KILLED.
Second-Lieutenant Frederick Birks, V.C., and Military Medallist, was killed in action in France on September 20. Lieutenant Birks was born and educated in Buckley. North Wales. He came to South Australia in 1913, and resided at Largs Bay. He left for Melbourne and enlisted as a private at the outbreak of war. He sailed with the First Expediton, and was in the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. He was slightly wounded, but soon returned to duty, and remained until the evacuation. In France he gained the Military Medal and his commission. Lieutenant Birks was 22 years old. He had a kind and genial disposition and was loved by all. During the early part of his life he was actively connected with the North Wales Church Boys' Brigade, and was a communicant of St. Matthew's Church, Buckley, in the parish of Hawarden, where Mr. Gladstone often officiated. He won the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery. Accompanied only by a corporal, he rushed a strong point and held up an advance. One bomb wounded the corporal, but Lieutenant Birks went on, killed the remainder of the enemy, and captured a machine gun. Shortly afterwards he organised a small party, attacked another strong point occupied by 25 of the enemy, of whom one officer and 15 men were captured, and the rest killed. During the consolidation Lieutenant Birks did magnificent work in reorganising parties of other units by his wonderful coolness and personal bravery. He was killed at the post by a shell while endeavoring to extricate some of his men. He was buried by the explosion of a shell.
Buckley Cenotaph
Coronation Garden, Buckley
St. Matthew's Parish Church & Church Grounds