Sidney Colvin Birch

Story:
Sidney (sometimes Sydney) Colvin Birch was born in Bengal, India, on 5 Aug 1871 the son of Col. Alexander Colvin Birch and Marion Birch (nee Amey).  His initial education was at Strathallan Hall School, Conchan, Isle of Man, and later at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until he left in 1886.  He had joined the Army serving with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry rising to the rank of Sergeant until 1895 when he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred as Adjutant to the 4th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers eventually rising to the rank of Captain by the time of WW1. During his time in the Army he had served in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War. There is no record of him serving abroad during WW1 but he would certainly have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals though there is no mention of this on his medal record card.   He had married Violet Bruce Johnston at St. Peter's Church, Pimlico, Middlesex, on 31 Jan 1901.  Little is known of his military service during the war other than he was attached to the 1st Battalion at the time he died on 1 Aug 1917 and was buried at Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, on 2 Aug 1917.