Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Birch, a domestic groom, born 1854 in Somerby, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Ann Birch (nee Meacock, married in the 1st quarter of 1878 in the Daventry, Northamptonshire district), born 1858 in Flore, Northamptonshire. John was born in the 2nd quarter of 1880 in Flore, he had one sibling, a brother, William, born 1879 in Northamptonshire, in April 1881 the family home was at Kings Lane, Flore. In March 1883 in the Flore, Northamptonshire district, John’s mother died aged 24. In April 1891 John was a schoolboy and was residing in Pickwell, Leicestershire, in the family home of his paternal Grandparents, John Birch, an agricultural labourer, born 1829 in Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Birch (nee Zanker, married in the 1st quarter of 1850 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1829 in Billesdon, Leicestershire, also residing in the family home was John’s brother William, a general domestic servant and his cousin Walter, a schoolboy, born 1881 in Chelsea, Middlesex. John first entered the theatre of war in France on the 27th July 1915, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
1 Jul-16 – In the field. Great offensive begins – at 7.30am the whole line assaulted. The Brigade front line consisted of EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT and SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY and the second line of the HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT and RIFLE BRIGADE. We had “A” Company, half “C” and “B” Companies in the front line – half of “C” Company to look after an enemy trench on right flank and “D” Company in reserve. As soon as our troops left their trenches heavy machine gun fire was brought to bear on them from all directions and it was impossible even to reach the German front line. Our casualties in Officers amounted to 100% and was also very heavy in Other Ranks. After lying about in shell holes all the day the men came back to their original front line. That night the remains of the 11th Brigade were relieved by the 10th Brigade and went back to billets in MAILLY.
On Friday August 25th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE MELTONIANS KILLED. – PTE. J. BIRCH. Mr. Samuel Birch, of Pickwell, and who was formerly employed as electrician at Burton Hall, has been unofficially informed that his son, Pte. J. Birch has been killed. Deceased was employed at the Melton Army Remount Depot, and went out with one of the drafts from there early in the war. He is a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Birch, Welby-lane, Melton Mowbray.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
John was born in Flore, Northamptonshire in 1880, but following his mother’s death at the age of 24, he and his brother William moved to be with their paternal grandparents in Pickwell. According to the 1891 Census he was living with his grandparents, John an agricultural worker and his wife Elizabeth, his brother, William (aged 12 years, a general domestic servant) and his cousin Walter (aged 10 years, a scholar). They are shown as residing in a 4 room property in Pickwell.
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Submitted by A. Eastwood 2018