William Charles Birch was a Private within the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) on board theRoyal Edward  when she was torpedoed in August 1915. He was subsequently reported missing, presumed dead. He had been a member of the Denaby Ambulance Corps. His death is recorded 'At Sea', and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey. He was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star medals. 


William's enlistment paper state that he lived at 1, Alexandra Terrace Conisbrough, and that he had previously served within the King's Royal Rifles, suggesting that he was a reservist. His service records show nothing other than his enlistment in Februay 1915, and then his drowning in August of the same  year. His casualty form states that he "Embarked on "Royal Edward" (Devonport), Arrived Alexandria, Sailed to Gallipoli, Missing, believed drowned on the Sinking of the H.M.T "Royal Edward" on passage from Alexandria to Gallipoli." He left Devonport on 30th July, and had been at sea from Alexandria for just one day when the vessel sank.


He was 5'6 and a half inches tall, had a chest measurement of 36 and a half inches, and a 'good' physical development. On the official paperwork listing William's family details in the wake of his death, in the section which should be signed by the local Magistrate is simply a scrawl of writing which appears to read "Magistrates of Conisboro (sp) fed up with [illegible, appears to say 'signing'] papers". Perhaps this is a result of the death toll which had unfortunately hit the village. 


His records show that he was married to Minnie, and at the time of his death the couple had four children ranging from four years down.