Noel Birch
Sir James Frederick Noel Birch Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George | |
|---|---|
| Other work | Master-General of the Ordnance |
Military career
Birch was the second son of Major Richard Birch and was born at
Birch was in command of the Riding Establishment at Woolwich from 1905 to 1907. In 1912 he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant colonel and commanded the 7th brigade, Royal Horse Artillery.
Birch went with his brigade to France in August 1914, serving under the command of Sir Edmund Allenby, in the retreat from Mons and in the battle of the Aisne and Ypres-Armentières. In January 1915 he was appointed brigadier-general on the general staff of the Cavalry Corps, and a few months later C.R.A. of the 7th division going in the same position in July to the I Corps, then commanded by Sir Douglas Haig. In May 1916 Haig brought him to general headquarters as artillery adviser, a post he held until the end of the war. He was promoted lieutenant-general in 1919 when he was made a colonel commandant of the Royal Artillery.
In 1920, he became director of remounts at the
Birch married Florence Hyacynthe Chetwode (1876–1938) the third daughter of Sir George Chetwode and Alice Jane Bass, and sister of Philip Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode.
Birch died on 3 February 1939 at Kings College Hospital, London aged 73.
Publications
- Modern Riding (1909)
- Modern Riding and Horse Education (1912)
References
- Who's Who
- The Times, Obituaries February 1939
- ^ "No. 27415". The London Gazette. 11 March 1902. p. 1731.
- ^ "The War – The reinforcements". The Times. No. 36763. London. 9 May 1902. p. 10.
- ^ "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning home". The Times. No. 36957. London. 22 December 1902. p. 10.
