Lionel Edgar Bird MM | Bacchus Marsh Avenue Of Honour

Sergeant Lionel Edgar Bird MM

Service No.:

1876

Unit:

Assistant Provost Marshal, 5^th Division, Traffic Control⁽⁴⁾

Tree No.:

S018

Planted by:

Samuel Bird (brother)

Image of plaque on tree for Lionel Edgar Bird

See Notes (1) (2) (3) (5)

Lionel Edgar Bird was born at Lubeck, VIC, on the 25^th of February 1899, to Samuel Charles Bird and Catherine Simpson. He had a brother, Charles, who is also remembered in the Avenue.

He was a farmer at Bacchus Marsh, VIC, when he enlisted in the AIF at Melbourne, on the 8^th of February 1916, at the age of almost 26. Embarking from Melbourne in July aboard the HMAT A31 Ajana with the 57^th Battalion, 3^rdReinforcements, he disembarked at Devonport, England, at the end of August. In December he joined the 59^th Battalion in France.

In January 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and by June was a Corporal. In July he was detached for duty with the Assistant Provost Marshal, 5^th Division. In October he was further promoted to Sergeant and a month later transferred from the 59^th Battalion to the 5^th Division, Traffic Control Detachment⁽⁴⁾. He was recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal in October 1918 and then for the Military Medal in October for the same action.

On the morning of the 8th August 1918, this NCO, by his splendid example under heavy shell fire, kept the traffic control posts entrusted to his charge from Warfusee - Abancourt to Bayenvillers, east of Villers-Bretonneux well in order. At great personal risk he kept the roads clear and refused to leave until the rush on the roads had quietened.
Source: Recommendation for Military Medal.

He spent some time in hospital with Influenza in early 1919 and embarked for Australia in July, arriving home at the start of September. Two weeks later he was awarded the Military Medal and was discharged from the AIF on the 17^th of October 1919.

In May 1942 Lionel enlisted at Bacchus Marsh, VIC, in the Volunteer Defence Corps as a Private and was discharged in April 1944.

Lionel Edgar Bird MM died at Caufield, VIC, in 1975, aged 86.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Balliang & District Honor Roll, Balliang.

Notes

This is an old plaque from before the tree was removed.
The initials should be L. E. not L. G.
Transferred from the 59^th Battalion to the 5^th Division, Traffic Control Detachment
Which I believe is part of the Assistant Provost Marshal
Having been awarded the Military Medal he is entitled to use the post-nominal letters MM

Location of Tree Number E14

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Sergeant Lionel Edgar Bird MM

Notes

Location of Tree Number E14

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