Private Bertram Norman Birchmore

Rank or Title

Date of Birth

1888

Date of Death

4 May 1917

War time / or Pre War occupation

Straw hat packer

Employer

Vyse, Sons & Co, Bute Street

Service Number

47452

Place of Birth

Luton
United Kingdom

World War I Address

34 Ivy Road
Luton
United Kingdom

Place of Death

France

Grave Location

Douai Communal Cemetery
France

War Memorial Location

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

Source

The Luton News , 20th September 1917
Luton War Memorial

Pte Bertram Norman Birchmore, 47452, 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, died as a prisoner of war of the Germans on May 4th, 1917. He had been captured with a back wound and in a delirious state on April 29th. He was aged 29.

His widow Gertrude, of 34 Ivy Road, Luton, had been appealing for information about what had happened to her missing husband. It was more than four months before official information arrived that he had died as a prisoner of war.

Pte Birchmore had enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery (No. 166578) in September 1916 before being transferred to the infantry and being sent to Whitchurch in November. He went to France in January 1917.

Prior to joining up, he was employed as a packer by hat manufacturers Vyse, Sons & Co, of Bute Street, Luton. In the 1911 Census he is recorded as living with parents William James and Joan Birchmore at 209 Park Street, Luton.

Bertram Birchmore married Gertrude Lawrence at St Mary's Parish Church, Luton, on April 3rd, 1915. They had a daughter, Laura, born in 1916.

At the time of his death,Gertrude was living at 34 Ivy Road, Luton. The address on his prisoner of war records is given as 107 Oak Road, Luton. Gertrude was later living at 35 Dallow Road, Luton.

Individual Location

Luton War Memorial

Author: Deejaya

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