Soldier Record

I was given my Great Grandads WW1 medals about 10 years ago, so set it to be my task to find out all i could about Arthur Thomas Bird. He was a family man and worked at a goods carrier on the railways at Aston Birmingham. He has a wife and 2 young children, but joined in Birmingam centre to be part of the First Batallion Coldstream Guards. He went to France in sept 1917 and fought in Cambrai where a lot of his batallion were killed. He was then part of the offensive of March 21st 1918, and was injured when fighting near Adinfer Wood. He was moved to St Johns hospital at the Base camps at Etaples, but sadly died of his wounds 13th May and is buried in Etaples. Family word was that his mom and wife travelled over to see him in hosptial. Roses of Picady was being played on the boat and this always reminded his wife of going over to France and what she saw. There was also word that he was killed when the hospital was hit my a bomb, but I havent been able to find if this was true.

This lead to a massive interest in my family tree and The battles of WW1. I travel to France each year to visit the lads over there and have been to over 400 cememtries. I am very proud of my Great Grandad but sad that he gave his life, missing out on so much and his children.