BIRD, PTE. ROBERT HENRY Reg. # 657962 (CEF 162 Battalion)
Robert Henry Bird was born September 30, 1894, the son of Robert Henry Bird and Francie Mahala Johnson. At the time of the 1901 census, Robert lived with his parents and siblings in Chapman Twp.
He enlisted in Sundridge on May 6, 1916. He was 21.
At the time of enlistment Robert identified himself as a farmer and that his present address, as that of his father was Sundridge. He listed his father as his next of kin.
Robert arrived in England on November 11, 1916 on the S.S. Caronia.On November 27, 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Pioneers and joined them ‘in the field’ on December 16, 1916 having arrived in France on November 28.
Serving in the 2nd Pioneers during 1917 Robert would have been at the “Battle of Vimy Ridge”, the “First Battle of the Scarpe, 1917”, the “Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917”, the “Battle of Arleux” and the “Third Battle of the Scarpe”, formally entitled “The Battles of Arras, 1917”, and itself being part of “The Arras Offensive (9 April - 15 May 1917).
While in France, he suffered several bouts of respiratory illness with finally being diagnosed as seriously ill in 1918.
Robert Henry Bird was discharged on April 9, 1919.
He was identified as having served in England and France.
Robert returned to Chapman township where, at the time of the 1921 census he was identified as living with his parents and siblings. Robert married Edna Pearl Doherty on January 20, 1923 in Burks Falls. (Edna identified herself as being born inn Croft Twp.). Robert died May 24, 1943 and is buried in Spence Cemetery.
