Soldier Record

My father was only seven when his big brother Edward died in January 1915. he alsways wanted to know more about him, but their father wouldn't talk about it.

Edward was my father's brother, he lasted a mere 11 days in France, he has no grave.

Just after dad died in the late 1980s, my eldest sisteer and I were walking past the local church and felt compelled to go in, although neither of us belonged to that church.

We walked around, thinking of dad, and we came across the rememberence book in a glass case. We went over to have a look and to our astonishment, Uncle Edward's name was at the top of the left hand page, Private Edward Bird, Private, Coldstream Guards.

We went to talk to the lady on duty looking after the various items that the church sold and she told us that the page of the book of rememberance was turned at the beginning of the day.

What were the chances that Uncle Edward's page would turn up on the one day in many years that we entered that church.

We felt very close to both my father and Uncle Edward that day and since then I have tried to find out as much as possible about my Uncle. The Coldstream Guards at Birdcage Walk have been very helpful and supplied me with his service details, short-lived though they were.