Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Birch a Coal Miner, born 1839 in Thringstone, Leics., and his wife Mary, born 1841 in Thringstone, Leics., John was born in 1868 in Thringstone, Leics., his siblings were Jane, born 1861, Lydia, born 1863 and Hannah, born 1866, all his siblings were born in Thringstone, Leics., in April 1871 the family home was at Hetton Buildings, Packington, Leics. In April 1881 John was a Schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Rotten Row, Thringstone, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Lydia, Hannah, Albert, born 1873, Emma, born 1875 and Alice, born 1878, the latter three siblings were all born in Thringstone, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a Soldier and was residing in the family home at Hawcliff Road, Mountsorrel, Leics., together with his wife Mabel Ethel Birch, born 1877 in Barbados, and their son Laurence Wilton Eugene, born 1897 in Simonstown, South Africa. The War Diary for today records. Column marched from SAMAIKAHAH at 5.00am. Objective to secure line BELAD – SIDIGHARIB. Battn formed left flank guard with 1 section Machine Gun Coy and 1 section 32nd LANCERS. At about 9.30am enemy fired first shell at column when we were 5000 yards from BELAD station at 10.50am. A and D Coy’s supported 53rd SIKHS, A Coy on right of railway line, D Coy on left. C and D Coy’s went round to left to turn enemy right flank. C and B Coy’s reached line of sandhills on our left where they found a good many Turks, both Coy’s pushed forward with left on DUJAIL CANAL, and cleared up the situation. Meanwhile A and D Coy’s pushing towards BELAD station which was captured about 3.00pm. Column captured 200 prisoners included 9 officers also 3 machine guns. Night picquets put out along sandhills north west and soyth west of station. Battn found No.2 section picquet line with C Coy and HQ’s bombers. Remainder took up a line south of station 300 yards in length. During the night Arab snipers active. About 20 Arabs attacked one picquet but were driven off with casualties. During the fighting enemy shelling heavy at times and machine gun fire heavy at short intervals. Battn casualties, Lt G. L. S. Warner of B Coy killed, 2nd Lt R. W. Otter of B Coy wounded, other ranks 2 killed and 16 wounded. The weather was cooler than the previous day.