Andrew Thomas Birch was born in Birkenhead in 1895.
Before he was born, his parents were recorded on the census of 1891, living in The Stork Hotel, Price Street, Birkenhead. Head of the household was Chas Birch aged 42. He was the manager of the pub. His wife Annie M was 32. They had both been born in Hanmer, Flintshire. Their daughter Florence was 9 months old. There was a barman, barmaid and a cook also included in the household.
The next census of 1901 records the family living at 26 Market Street Birkenhead. Charles Birch 53, was a Licensed Victualler – an employer. His wife Annie M was 42, both originally from Hanmer. Their listed children were Ernest E who was 19 and was an apprentice slate tiling worker. Charles was 13, Florence, 11 Albert 9, Sarah 8 and Andrew T 7. The younger children were all at school. (Please note that Ancestry has misspelled the name Birch on this census. It appears as ‘Bara’)
The census of 1911 records Andrew Thomas Birch living with his Uncle’s family at ‘The Farm, Willington, Malpas, Tybroughton. Head of the household was Farmer Thomas Birch who was a 68 year old widower. He’d been born in Hanmer. Listed in the household were his adult children. Ellen 43 and Mary Catherine Birch 41, both did Dairy work at the farm. Alfred William Birch, 26, his son, worked on the farm. Andrew Thomas Birch, his 16 year old nephew worked on the farm. This source tells us that Andrew had been born in Birkenhead.
UK soldiers who Died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes all the military information detailed above left. It adds that he enlisted in Overton. This source tells us that he was formerly in the Welsh Horse Regiment with a different regimental number. It tells us that he ‘Died of Wounds’ in France. His medal index card also on Ancestry, lists his two medals.
The Register of Soldiers’ Effects in which the Army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Andrew. It seems that nearly £17 was shared between his mother Mary and siblings Florence, Sarah and Ernest and sister in law Catherine.
