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



"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 5th 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 1st 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.


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 155th 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.