Mark's Story.
Mark Bird was born in 1893 in Birkenhead to father James, a master plasterer and mother Sarah. In 1901 the family were living at 82, Claughton Road, Birkenhead.Mark first enlisted in the Territotrial Army (Cheshire Regiment) in 1909, signing on twice for a total of 5 years until February 1914.
After the outbreak of the First World War in August, 1914, Mark enlisted in the Army. He initially joined 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment fighting out on the eastern front before returning to France then transferring to the Royal Engineers. He was in action right through to the end, even staying on at the western front after the end of war.
Mark Bird began his demobilisation back to England, at the end of January 1919. He had one last journey to make to travel from France to Birkenhead after years of active service. However, a letter written by his father to the Birkenhead News reveals that this soldier’s journey home was not so straightforward. James Bird, of James St, Oxton, Mark’s father, would have been expecting his son to return home to England safe and well, however, he felt so strongly about his son’s experience while travelling home that he wrote a letter for the Birkenhead News to publish explaining details of the conditions Mark had to endure, which resulted ultimately in his death. The father’s letter to the newspaper is a follows ……
“My son, Sapper Mark Bird left Roubaix on Jan. 20th, and after 72 hours exposure in open trucks, found himself only 20 miles away from his place of departure. After 5 days travelling, they arrived at Boulogne. Before leaving Boulogne, they were supposed to have an issue of food, but after waiting in a queue for 1 ½ hours they were shipped to Southampton, foodless and starving.
The ship was overpacked and the treatment disgraceful, the men being packed on the decks and exposed to the weather. They arrived at Southampton at 6.30 pm, and were not landed until the next morning, meanwhile being exposed on the open decks without food or drink, barring the “generosity” of the stewards who provided tea at 5d a cup!
My son arrived home on January 29th and has since died of pneumonia brought on by the exposure and starvation he had to endure. Before leaving Roubaix he was classed as A1.”
The ‘Birkenhead News’ added an editorial outlining Mr. Bird’s reason for writing the letter and he hoped that it would highlight to the authorities, the conditions that his son and other servicemen and women returning home had endured, and so others may be able to prepare themselves for such an arduous journey.
Mark was one of eight brothers who served in the First World War, five abroad and three on home service.
Mark died of pneumonia on 6th February 1919, aged 26, only a few days after returning from France. His funeral took place at Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead on the afternoon of 8th February and was well attended by friends and family. It was conducted with full military honours with a detachment of the Border Regiment and also comrades of the 1st Cheshire Field Company.
Research and grave photo by Chris