John “Jack” Spearman d’Hauteville Birkby (1887-1966)
John ‘Jack’ Spearman d'Hauteville Birkby was born on May 21 1887 in St Saviours Parish, St. Heliers. Jack
was the eldest son of James Stewart Birkby (1855 – 1927) and Caroline Angelique d’Hauteville Spearman
(1864-1936) and the elder brother of Henry ‘Hal’ Alexander Birkby (1889-1916).
Jack was baptised at the 11th Century Parish Church of St. Helier, a church, the site of the martyrdom of
St. Helier in AD555, host to future English kings who sought refuge there during the English Civil War in
1646 and the final resting place of opposing commanders Major Peirson of England and Baron de
Rullecourt of France, both killed during the Battle of Jersey in 1781.
Not a lot is known about Jack’s early years except that the family lived in St Heliers. His brother Hal was
schooled in Nantua, Ain in France for a time so it’s possible that Jack also did some schooling there.
Chatillon-sur-Chataronne in the region of Ain in the French Alps, is where Jack and Hal’s Great Great
Grandfather, Colonel Paul Louis Jaques Marie d’Hauteville was born on February 23 1781 and so it is
likely that the boys stayed with relatives on their mothers side who still lived in the area.
The Birkby boys were educated at Victoria College Jersey. It was here that Jack formed a life-long passion
with football (soccer) and cricket which he still played well into adult life. Up until 1870, rugby was the
predominant sport played, against main rivals from Guernsey, Elizabeth college, but by 1903, soccer had
all but taken over. Cricket was popular at the school and Jack may have witnessed, or even participated
in, an 1898 match in which H. Turnbull achieved a hat trick, taking 6 Guernsey wickets for 9 runs.i
It was at Victoria College that Jack first donned a military uniform and practiced drills as part of the
Victoria College Cadets, skills that would serve him well for his future military career. Under the old law
of the Island all Jersey-born boys had to join the militia at the age of 16.
This practice continued till 1884, when, thanks to the Lieutenant-Governor, a College Militia Cadet Corps
was formed, initially attached to the South Militia Regiment. The Victoria College boys competed in rifle
shooting annually with Guernsey for the Challenge Shield.
Jack’s father James was a former Sergeant Major of the East Battalion of the Jersey Militia where he
served to 1903. He was formerly a Warrant Officer of the Cheshire Regiment. James, the 1881 Army
Inter Regimental Rifle Matches medal. And various accolades from the Jersey Rifle Club to which he
belonged.
Jack’s brother, Hal was an excellent shot having inherited the shooting skills of this father. It was these
skills that earned Hal a compliment from Lord French when he inspected the Southern Command and
had him appointed as Sniping Officer on joining the 5th Battalion at the Front where he met his untimely
death in 1916.
In 1903 Jack’s parents moved the family to London where they lived at 22, Bridge Avenue Mansions,
Hammersmith, Jack was 18 and Hal was 16. In September 1904, Jack sat and passed the exam to enter
the public service as a ‘Boy Clerk’ having passed subjects in English Composition (including handwriting and spelling); arithmetic; digesting Returns; precis and indexing and book-keeping.
Jack may have found it difficult to find a job, or was looking for something a bit more exciting, because
his father made contact with the Colonel of the Cheshire Regiment that he himself had belonged to, and
got an endorsement from the top before marching Jack down to the Army recruitment office in London
on the 24th July 1905, and signing him up to the Cheshire Regiment as a private. Jack was18 years old.
On enlistment Jack was 5ft 8 inches and 126 lbs (57.1 kilograms) and described as being pale with grey
eyes and fair hair and a scar on the back of his left leg. The recruitment officer was impressed with Jack
noting that he was “…An extremely nice lad. His father who brought him in here tells me that he was a Warrant officer
in the Regt. and that he has been in communication with the Col. of the Regt. who is anxious to have him enlisted”
Army life agreed with Jack, physically he put on weight and bulk, and he advanced professionally as well.
Jack was promoted Lance Corporal 24 November 1905 and to Corporal on 8 February 1908. He
transferred to the King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) 2nd Battalion in 1910 based in Secunderabad, India
and on 16 August 1909 he was posted to India and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
Jack left the British Army and set sail for New Zealand. On the journey out he meets a young ladies maid
called Elsie Smith whom he spent the months at sea getting to know and falling in love. They agreed to
keep in touch when Jack disembarked in Wellington NZ. His address on arrival in NZ was given as being
care of Lawrence Spearman Ngaio.
Jack stayed with Lawrence d’Hauteville for a little while then enlisted in the NZ Rifle Brigade (Earl of
Liverpool's Own), also known as the “Dinks” on 28 April 1915. The Brigade was formed on 1 May 1915
as the 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Division, part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During
the first World War it fought in Egypt, against the Senussi, and then on the Western Front. It was
eventually disbanded on 4 February 1919.
On enlistment in the NZ Rifle Brigade he is described thus: Age: 27yrs 10 months, Height: 5ft 8 ¾
inches, Weight: 132 lbs, Chest: min 33 ½ max 35 ½ , Complexion: Fair, Colour of eyes: Light grey,
Colour of hair: Fair, Religion: Church of England. Considered fit for service with NZ Expeditionary
Force!
He sailed out with the rest of the Brigade to France via the Suez Canal and Egypt. The troops
disembarked at Suez, moved by rail to Ismailia, and marched to the Brigade camp across the Canal at
Ferry Post, the 3rd Battalion reporting on March 13th 1916.
On arrival there was a reshuffling of officers involving transfers and promotions which were not
completed until the last week of March. These adjustments included the appointment of 2nd Lieut. J. S.
D'H. Birkby to be Lieutenant, and to be Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion.
On 7 April 1916, at Alexandria he boarded “Alaunia” for France where he spent a bitter four months in
the trenches. It was just after his arrival in France that news reached him of the death of his brother
Henry ‘Hal’ Alexander Birkby (5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment) who was also on the front line in
France on 20 April 1916.
Jack’s brother Hal, who was in charge of a sniper unit, was crawling about in the mud and rain in nomans land spotting German targets for his snipers, when a mine exploded nearby. Henry was taken to the
33rd Casualty Clearing Station at La Basse but could not be saved. At the tender age of 26, Henry was
dead.
Battalion diary - 5th Royal Berkshire Thursday 20 April 1916 France, In the Trenches
Mine blown by us on our right, otherwise a quiet day.
Casualties. 2Lt Birkby wounded early in the morning and died same day in N. 33 CCS
1 o.r [other rank]. Killed 5 o.r. Wounded
Hal’s war had lasted less than a month from when he arrived in France to his untimely death. Like many
who served early in the war, Henry was a young man in the prime of his life, bullet proof and full of
bravado. He probably thought the war a ‘grand adventure’, reinforced by the fact that at the time of his
death he didn’t have a will. Hal’s commanding officer wrote of him:
He will be a great loss to us, and had he lived, would, I am sure, have made a name for himself. During
his short time with us he showed great keenness and ability. He was most fearless and at times almost
reckless.
A fellow officer wrote:
He was appointed to command our snipers, and in a very short time raised their efficiency enormously.
He was keener than anyone I have known, and had spent most of his last day and night crawling about
in the mud and rain, in front of our front line (no man’s land) looking for targets. He is a great loss to
us.
Hal’s parents James who was now aged 60 and Caroline aged 52, received a telegram at home in
Hammersmith London from the Secretary of the War Office dated 21st April 1916 that brought the news
they dreaded most:
Deeply upset to inform you 2/Lt H.A. Birkby 9th Berkshire Regiment died of wounds April 20th.
Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy.
Two months later James and his wife, were informed that Henry had been buried in Bethune, the village
close to La Basse where he died, and where he had spent time in reserve whilst in rest Billets in the weeks
before his death.
Meanwhile, Jack sat down in his dug-out in the trenches to write to Elsie. In this letter he refers to his
parents “days of sorrow” this is a reference to Hal’s death. He also mentions Elsie visiting his parents
which suggests their relationship was “serious” and mentions an artillery shell case he is trying to get – I
believe this is the shell case we had on our fireplace in Torbay when I was a child. Mum used to keep
flowers in it and unfortunately it has been lost….
After four months in the trenches in northern France, Jack got sick from a gassing and on 8 Sept 1916
was sent to No. 2 Red Cross Hospital Rouen with what was referred to as “Debility”.
Later that month on 13 Sept 1916 he was sent to Brockenhurst Hospital in England, a hospital dedicated
to the NZ armed services for rest and recuperation of NZ Officers and he vacated his appointment of
adjutant.
Enough mucking around he has had his life’s wake-up call, his brother is dead and he happens to be back
in England near his beloved. He makes hurried preparations and marries Elsie Smith at St Saviours
Church Paddington later that month on 30 September 1916 officiating Rev Dobson Vicar of St Peters
Paddington.
They have a 24 hour honeymoon described by Jack as “the perfect day” before he is back at
Brockenhurst and writing her letters and poetry like a smitten newlywed….on consecutive days the 18th,
19th and 20th!!!
Thankfully, Jack never returned to the front, his war was over. He was transferred to Brighton on to 6
Nov 1916 . On 18 Jan 1917 he was placed on NZ Roll on account of ill health and on 17 March 1917
embarked on “Maunganui” for NZ the same ship that took him to the war was taking him back to his
new home NZ with his new bride and is recorded as suffering from debility and general anaemia. His
address is listed as 150 Clyde Quay Wellington.
Jack and Elsie got themselves a place at 205 Wellington Terrace Wellington and later as Eastbourne 169
The Terrace Wellington. The records show his health was improving and the medical board found that
absolutely no sign of chest trouble now but found that he was permanently unfit for active service and
recommended he be struck off the strength of the NZRB with half pension for six months, he was
granted privilege leave 10 Aug to 30 Aug 1917.
Jack was now only fit for Home Service. He applied for a position at District HQ Palmerston North. He
got a good reference, was reported to have done excellent work as Adjutant of 3rd Bttn and is shown on
NZ roll as specially recommended for return to the front if found fit. He got the gig, and was employed
at District HQ Wellington Military District Palmerston North as assistant to the Assistant Adjutant
General (A.A.G.). It was during this time in Palmerston North that the couple welcomed the birth of
Denise Elsie d’Hauteville Birkby on March 18 1918.
In 1918 he applied for the position at Narrow Neck (Devonport, Auckland). On the way back from
England his ship had docked at Devonport and perhaps he fell in love with the place! The Colonel in
Palmerston North sounded like he may have been a bit miffed that Jack didn’t stay long. He was given a
good reference with the Colonel specifically requesting that an unmarried officer be appointed to replace
Jack (wives and kids just get in the way!).
Jack took up his position at Narrow Neck, Devonport on 9 Sept 1918 where he took over from
Lieutenant E.T. Rowllings and later became Camp Adjutant at Narrow Neck on the back of a great
reference…keen and painstaking?!:
“ I may add that I have personally seen a good deal of Mr Birkby’s work since his appointment, and I can thoroughly
endorse what Major Peacock says of him. He is intensely keen and painstaking and should make a very good Camp
Adjutant. I also agree with the recommendation that he be granted the temporary rank of Lieutenant” R Walker Major,
General Staff
Unfortunately, the ill health that had plagued him since 1916 never really left him, and a medical report
on 20 May 1919 recommended he be demobilised noting that Jack weighed 140lb; had respiratory
problems “impairment harsh breath sounds like R. Apex” ; disability described as “chronic pulmonary
disease” but that he was in “fair condition”.
The Board assessed his earnings capacity outside the Army in the general labour market was lessened by
“30%” and his disability was noted as “permanent”. Jack made an application for retirement on 27 May
1919 and the NZ Gazette 26 June 1919 carried the news that 2nd Lt Birkby is posted to the retired list
with the rank of Lieutenant dated 29 May 1919.
A year after retiring, Jack and Elsie welcome their second daughter, Galdys Angelique May on May 15
1920. In 1921 the Army again surveyed its retired soldiers and Jack completed a survey giving his
occupation as “Farmer” and his address as “Glenfield near Auckland”.
Glenfield must have indeed been quite rural in those days. We have Jack’s photo album and the photos of
Pa with his sleeves rolled up in his breeches looking every bit the farm-type and the girls playing on
swings. It is while living in Auckland that in 1923 Joy Irene Mary was born. A few years later, Jack’s father
in England, James passes away after a long and painful illness on December 21 1927.
The Army surveyed its retirees again in 1930 and Jack was asked again to update his address for the
retirees list. Now he gives his address as “Karakanui Native School, Pahi, Otamatea. In 1933 when
Denise was 15, the family sailed back to England via the Panama Canal, on the ‘Rangitata’, where she and
her two sisters Gladys and Joy, did their schooling at Godwin Girls College in Margate in Kent and they
lived in and around Broadstairs.
After a couple of years in England, they returned to live in New Zealand where they finally settled into a
home in Malfroy Road in Rotorua and Jack is appointed as Headmaster of Whakarewarewa Maori School.
This is where he and the family settle for some time and Jack spends the 2nd World War years as a
teacher and the secretary of the Rotorua Red Cross. He is also heavily involved in the local cricket club
and a keen soccer player.
At this point, Jack’s mother, Caroline Angelique is living with Jacks and the family, having travelled out to
NZ with the family when they returned from England. Caroline passed away on July 11 1936. She is
buried in Rotorua. A few years later, eldest daughter Densie and John Edward Longstaff marry in
Rotorua in 1942.
Jack retires from the teaching profession in 1951 and lives in Rotorua for another five years. In 1956 he
and Elsie move to Takapuna where they live at 19 Francis Street Takapuna and then 20 Jutland Rd.
Jack dies at the age of 79 years on October 6 1966 at a private hospital, leaving his wife Elsie, his
daughters Denise (Mrs Longstaff, Rotorua) Gladys (Mrs Walker Birkdale) and Joy, two grandchildren and
a geat grandson. The service was held at Watney Siburns Sons chapel Newmarket. Jack is buried at
Purewa Lawn Cemetery and re-unitied with his beloved Elsie when she passes away in 1977.
Information on Victoria College Jersey can be found at http://members.societe-jersiaise.org/whitsco/vicinfo4.htm (accessed on
28 December 2009).
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