Font Size 16px
Bacchus Marsh
Avenue of Honour

Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/public/www.bacchusmarsh.avenueofhonour.org.au/people.php on line 1082
Surnames beginning with [ ] - Results 281

Sergeant Lionel Edgar Bird MM

Service No.:
1876
Unit:
Assistant Provost Marshal, 5th 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)
Image of Military Medal Image of Service Medal - British War Medal Image of Service Medal - Victory Medal

Lionel Edgar Bird was born at Lubeck, VIC, on the 25th 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 8th of February 1916, at the age of almost 26. Embarking from Melbourne in July aboard the HMAT A31 Ajana with the 57th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements, he disembarked at Devonport, England, at the end of August. In December he joined the 59th 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, 5th Division. In October he was further promoted to Sergeant and a month later transferred from the 59th Battalion to the 5th 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 17th 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

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

Location of Tree Number E14

Map Options


Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.67774698433237, 144.45046294455955

Learn how find this tree in Google Maps and get directions
  1. Copy the latitude and longitude located just below the map.

    There is now a button to copy the coordinates to the clipboard!
  2. Open Google Maps.
  3. Locate yourself on the map - not required on a moblie device.
  4. There is a search box in the top left corner.
  5. Paste the latitude and longitude into the search box press return.
  6. Press the directions button.

Related Links

Last updated by lee, Mon, 03 May 2021 18:26:05