A Third Afghan War O.B.E. and Shimber Berris campaign group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. H. Bird, 23rd Sikh Pioneers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1908, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Lieut. W. A. H. Bird, 23rd Sikh Pioneers); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Shimber Berris 1914-15 (Captain W. A. H. Bird, 23/Sikh Pnrs.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. W. A. H. Bird, 23/Sikh Pioneers); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. W. A. H. Bird); Delhi Durbar 1911, generally good very fine (7) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 August 1920.

For valuable services rendered in the Field in the Afghan War, 1919.

William Arthur Henry Bird, who was born in November 1884, was commissioned in January 1904 and joined the 23rd Sikh Pioneers in March of the following year. Witnessing active service as a Lieutenant on the North West Frontier in 1908, including the Zakka Khel operations (Medal & clasp), he was similarly employed as a Captain in the Sheikh Said operations in Aden in November 1914, until ordered to Somaliland at the end of the same month.

And it was here, for gallant deeds in the Shimber Berris operations, that he was mentioned in despatches by Lieutenant-Colonel T. Astley Cubitt, C.O. of Troops, Somaliland Protectorate, in the following terms.

Captain W. A. H. Bird, 23rd Sikh Pioneers, displayed great skill in the demolition of the forts, and on one occasion under a hot fire at close range’ (London Gazette 2 August 1916 refers.

And of that occasion ‘under a hot fire at close range’, the History of the Sikh Pioneers adds.

After some arduous and waterless marching the five forts of the offenders at Shimber Berris were reached and destroyed. The third of these put up a stout resistance, confident in its walls of eight foot thickness. The mountain guns of the contingent could not hope to batter these down, and the old last hope of an explosion party remained. Under a hot fire from the walls, Captain Bird’s party laid their charge, not without adventures, and the gateway was blown in. That was the end of it. Havildar Teja Singh (No. 4574) who placed the charge and fired it, very properly receiving the Indian Order of Merit (2nd Class) for his skill and gallantry. By the middle of February this party rejoined the Battalion.

In addition to his “mention”, Bird became one of just 21 Europeans to be awarded the “Shimber Berris 1914-15” clasp; see Roland Hill’s roll in the O.M.R.S. Journal, Spring 1985, pp. 1-6, including a photograph of the officers employed.

Subsequently employed in operations with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from February to November 1918, for which he was given the Brevet of Major, Bird witnessed further action in the Third Afghan War, gaining another “mention” in addition to his O.B.E. He was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonerl in June 1928 and placed on the Retired List in January 1933.