Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914

WILFRID ARTHUR BIRCHAL

26 December 1884 - 28 November 1917

At School 1896 -

Lieut Nottinghamshire Yeomanry

According to the 1901 Census Wilfrid was born at sea and, aged 16, was living at 46 Alexandra Road South with his uncle Charles, a Cotton Goods Merchant, aunt Anne, elder cousin Minna, younger brother Harold and a housemaid. Wilfrid had left School and was working as a merchant's clerk, presumably for his uncle. Harold was born in Manchester in 1886 and was still at School. In 1905 the Hulmeian Magazine reported that Wilfrid was in the Russo-Chinese Bank, Shanghai and Harold was on the staff of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway.

The boys' parents, Edward and Margaret, appear to have spent most of their lives abroad, marrying in Manila, The Philippines, and ultimately living in China, Margaret only returning to England to give birth to the boys.

In 1912 Wilfrid was still in Shanghai but by the outbreak of war had moved to Buenos Aires, where he was working for the London and Brazilian Bank. In November 1914 Wilfrid returned to England and joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps, being commissioned Second Lieutenant with the Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry on 22 April 1915.

The Straits Times, Shanghai, noted in his obituary that he had taken up riding shortly before the war and was a familiar figure in racing circles. He

was also a keen cross-country rider and no doubt this prompted his ambition to join the Yeomanry.

The Sherwood Rangers were mobilised in August 1914 and as a Territorial Regiment, was divided into 1st line battalions, which could be sent overseas and 2nd line battalions,which were for home defence. In April 1915, the 1/1st Battalion proceeded to Egypt, and then in August to Gallipoli. Following the evacuation, in December, the Battalion returned to Egypt and in February 1916 moved to Salonika where they formed part of the 7th Mounted Brigade.

In June 1917 the Battalion were ordered back to Egypt, however on 24th June, the troopship they were on, SS Cestrian, was torpedoed in the starboard side of the boiler room. Three crew members were killed but owing to the discipline of the Sherwood Rangers, none of the Battalion were lost. The troops were rescued by a destroyer, HMS Ribble, which went alongside the stricken vessel and took the men aboard. Unfortunately there was nothing to be done for the horses, all of which perished.

The Battalion eventually landed in Egypt on 4th July 1917 and the 7th Mounted Brigade was placed under the orders of the Desert Mounted Corps to support the Palestine Campaign.

Wilfrid was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 July 1917 and it is likely that he joined the Regiment after this date in Egypt as his Medal Index card, denoting service overseas, notes his rank as Lieutenant and not 2nd Lieutenant, inferring that he had no overseas service as a 2nd Lieutenant. The 7th Mounted Brigade now comprised the Sherwood Rangers and the 1/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars. On their arrival in Egypt authority was given for the formation of a Machine Gun Squadron, the "20th", to be attached to the Brigade.

The Campaign in Palestine had ground to a halt in April 1917 following the defeat of The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) at the Battles of Gaza. A period of stalemate ensued as both sides constructed extensive entrenchments to defend the Gaza to Beersheba line and a series of fortified strong points on the open eastern flank. Although trench raids and patrols into no mans land were undertaken, the EEF had suffered too many casualties to continue the general offensive. Reinforcements were required and from June, Brigades were transferred from Salonika and India and Divisions formed from units already in Egypt.

On 11th June General Sir Edmund Allenby was appointed commander of the EEF. He had been the commander of the Third Army in France and had just "won a striking victory at Arras". Arriving in Egypt on 27th June, he took command at midnight on 28th June to begin preparation for the coming advance. Mounted reconnaissance patrols were undertaken from July to September to survey enemy defence positions, roads and water, and night raids were made on enemy railways and telegraph wires, although with varying degrees of success. Allenby quickly won the respect of his troops by making frequent visits to the front line units and moving his GHQ to Rafah, nearer to the front lines at Gaza.

The renewed offensive was planned to take place at the end of October and during the month the Regiment was engaged in reconnaissance patrols interspersed with periods in reserve. On 28th October the Regiment marched to Bir El Esani in support of an attack by the 20th Corps on Beersheba. On the 29th they were holding an outpost line from El Buggar eastwards to the Wadi Saba sweeping just south of Beersheba. On the 30th they marched at 20.00 hours to take part in the attack on Beersheba the following day. They were ordered to take up a line of observation opposite the defence of Ras Hablein and Ras Gaannam, to the south of Beersheba and to push on if the enemy showed signs of retreating. On the 31st the 20th Corps attacked Beersheba from the south west and the Australian and Anzac Divisions attacked from the east with a wide encircling

movement. The Regimental War Diary states: "16.00 Orders were received to co-operate in an attack on BEERSHEBA by the Australian Division. The Regiment pushed forward and the leading Sqdn (C) with Sqdn South Nottinghamshire Hussars at (12.10?) galloped RAS GAANNAM. The Turks fled without firing a shot. The rest of the Regt occupied the trenches east of RAS GAANNAM. Information was then received that the 4^th Australian Light Horse Bde had penetrated into BEERSHEBA. The 7^th Mounted Brigade marched down the ASLUT Road into the town meeting no opposition. They watered there about 2300 hours, horses being 30 hours without water. Casualties Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry nil".

The capture of Beersheba outflanked the Turks who were forced to retreat and considerable progress was made north and west by the EEF throughout November.

The following day two squadrons were employed in searching the defences south of the town and large quantities of ammunition were found. On 2nd November the Brigade advanced northwards with orders to occupy the area around Ain Kohleh, Hill 1250 and Tel Khuweil Feh. The book "Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine-Gun Squadron" describes the operations.

"After a day's rest, the 7th Mounted Brigade started off again (on November 2nd) at 08.30. "C" Sub-section reported to the "S.N.H."; "D" Sub-section to the "S.R.Y." The railway being crossed, the Brigade "carried-on," along a sort of old track north of Beersheba for about 10 miles., where a halt was called.

A short description of the country hereabouts would not, perhaps, be out of place. Now, the ground itself, baked hard by the tropical sun and total absence of water, is covered with stones, it has practically no vegetation whatever, any scrub, at all resembling a tree, being something to remark upon. Parts of the country, however, are cultivated by the natives during the winter and spring, but at the time of our campaign everything was quite bare. Then, there are no roads; the tracks made by the natives are inches deep in dust, which, when used by troops, rises in dense clouds, choking one's nose and eyes, besides "caking" on the face, so that in a very short time every man more resembles a performer in a minstrel troupe rather than a soldier in His Majesty's Army. Everywhere hills are to be seen, upon which there are outcrops of rock. Upon these hills, also, a small bushy plant manages to grow (a kind of thyme), which has a very pungent smell. In front of the halting place, mentioned above, was a plain about a mile wide; on each side of this was a range of hills. The "S.R.Y." and "D" Sub-section made towards Khuweilfeh on their left front, and the "S.N.H." and "C" Sub-section set off half-right towards the hills. The "S.N.H." met but slight opposition from the enemy, which they easily overcame. Pushing forward and taking, on the way, two field-guns and two ambulances abandoned by the Turks, they, at length, gained the highest point (Ras en Nukb); from here could be seen the Turkish position on the other side of the plain, being attacked by the "S.R.Y." It was clear that no further advance could be made until the Turks on the left were dislodged. This seemed to be a difficult proposition, as enemy reinforcements could be seen coming up in great numbers. Towards evening an attempt was made to attack them on the other side, but the ground being found to be very rocky, and after being shelled considerably and night setting in, orders were received to withdraw."

The War Diary describes the action in more detail:

" 2/11/17 The Regt proceeded to try to take hill 1250 with the assistance of the Battery. 2 troops C Sqdn under Lt Moss advanced to within 800 yds of the hill on the East side & 2 troops A Sqdn advanced on the South. The enemy however brought up machine guns on our left flank & we could not proceed further owing to having no reserves to meet this. B Sqdn advanced on the North side of the road with the 5^th Australian Light Horse who however were held up by much superior forces. 1600 It was evident that the ground could not be taken that day, so arrangements were made to hold on at night. The advanced troops 1730 were slightly withdrawn after dark & the line was held throughout the night. All the regiment was in the line & one platoon ICC were sent up as a local reserve.

3/11/17 in the morning the 1^st Australian Light Horse Bde came up to take KHUWEIL FEH. The Regt was ordered to hold on to the line till this was done. By mid-day KHUWEIL FEH had not been taken & the Regt was relieved by the ICC & the horses taken back to BEERSHEBA to water arriving about 1600 hrs."

During this action, Wilfrid was wounded, however it would not appear to have been too serious as there was no report of him being hospitalised.

Following a period in reserve, the Brigade followed the EEF advance northwards and came into action on 7th November near Sheria. However the line was held without much difficulty with few casualties. Although the regiment was in support, enemy shelling was suffered when watering, although few casualties occurred. The Regiment followed the advance and on 16th November, were positioned some 15 miles south of Jaffa. Orders were received to push out to Khulde to co-operate in an attack on Anwas however this was cancelled and the regiment withdrew to Corps Reserve.

On 27th November the Regiment marched to Tahta, a desolate native village, about 12 miles north west of Jerusalem, to assist the Yeomanry Division who were being attacked, arriving at 4.45 a.m. on the 28th. The horses could not be returned until night as the road was covered by Turks with machine guns. At 1400 hours the horses were heavily shelled and 71 lost.

The War Diary describes the action which took place: "Operation at Tahta -

28/11/17 0630

At 0630 the enemy began a strong counter attack against left of Yeomanry Div where there was a gap of 5 miles in our line. The Infantry taking on again near SHILTA. These troops under Lt. (Perowne) were at once sent up to reinforce Lincolnshire Yeo at the point of attack – KH.HEBADE. About 0700 information was received that the enemy were overlapping our left flank near SUFFA and one Squadron and a MG sub-section under Major Tallents were sent to hold a hill west of KH. HEBADE to counteract there this manouvre. At the same time a reserve of 40 men under Lt. Addy was provided by handing over 6 horses to 1 man. The third Sqn © had been split up to form two moderately strong dismounted Sqdns., about 0730 the enemy’s attack developed against KH. HEBADE and was repulsed at close quarters by South Notts Hussars & Lt Perowne’s Sqdn. Lt. Birchal was killed by a rifle bullet through the temple. About 1100 155^th Inf Bde managed to relieve the situation on our left. About (?) yds to the left of Maj Tallents Sqdn was a knoll garrisoned by 2 MG’s and a few men who were causing us a lot of trouble. About 1130, troops under 2Lt Harter were sent to take this knoll covered by MG fire from Major Tallents, from some armoured cars and from the infantry. The operation was gallantly carried out. 2Lt Harter was badly wounded some 30 yds before reaching the objective but the party reached the top of the hill where Pte Walster knocked out a MG with a bullet. Pte Candler bayoneted several men and the team of the other MG were shot. Immediately afterwards however, the party (only about 15 strong) was counter attacked and driven off by some 40 Turks armed with bombs. Efforts were made to get 2Lt Harter away, but it caused him so much pain to be moved and the fire was so hot that it was necessary to leave him. The enemy thereafter held the hill in strength. Save for heavy rifle fire and MG fire the remainder of the day passed without incident for the dismounted part of the Regt. In the afternoon the led horses were accidentally shelled by a battery of 4.5 howitzers. There were several casualties to those horses. 70 animals were lost. About noon half of Lt. Addy’s party under 2Lt Dalzeel were taken off to reinforce the right of the (line?) at KH HEBABE. 2Lt Dalzeel was wounded during the afternoon. At dusk the whole of Lt Addy’s and 2Lt Dalzeel’s party were withdrawn to take the led horses away.

Wilfrid's body was recovered and he was buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Section Y, grave 56.

Administration (limited) was granted in Manchester to Charles Emmanuel Birchal director of a limited company. Effects £287 15s. 4d.

Wilfrid is also commemorated at St Swithins Church, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, on the A Squadron memorial panels at St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark and on the London and Brazilian Bank Memorial as at 2005 held in storage by Lloyds Banking Group Ltd Head Office, Gresham Street, London.

Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914 - 1919