| Arthur Lea Birch here pictured wearing the uniform of a Gentleman cadet of the Royal Military College was born on 8 March, 1859 the youngest son of Edward Birch the Vicar and first Archdeacon of Blackburn and Elizabeth Maria in Manchester, England. He was educated first at rugby before being admitted to the Royal Military College. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 50th Regiment of Foot on 1 May, 1878. Lieutenant - 20 March, 1880 Captain - 2 December, 1884 Captain Birch was with his Regiment (the 50th being re-designated the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1881) when it took to the field during the Gordon Relief Expedition of 1884-85. While the 1st Battalion did not take part in any of the major actions during the Nile Expedition until December 1885 (Ginnis), Captain Arthur Lea Birch would fall victim of disease and die at Tani after a short illness on 1st May, 1885. A memorial plaque was erected in Arthur Lea Birch's memory at Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire. Carte de Visite Hills & Saunders - Photographer York Town, Yorkshire, England c. 1878 |
