HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT
Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!
No 16 LORD BIRDWOOD
Military Man at Hampton Court
Between 1943 and 1951 there resided in Hampton Court Palace, a Field Marshall with a Military Career that stretched back to 1883. William Riddell ‘Birdy’ Birdwood (1865 – 1951), Field Marshall, 1st Baron Birdwood, of ANZAC and Totnes, who had commenced his army career on the North West Frontier.
Birdwood’s time in the military reads like a history of the British Empire and its footprint on the world. N W Frontier, Second Boer War, WWI Gallipoli and the Western Front. His Commands include; Commander-in-Chief India, Northern Command India Fifth Army, Australian Corps, 1 Anzac Corps, 2 Anzac Corps, Australian Imperial Force. His Decorations are too numerous to mention, but include the Croix de Guerre (France), Distinguished Service Order, and many similar awards from Belgium, Japan, Portugal and United States.
In November 1914, Lord Kitchener gave Birdwood the task of combining the forces of Australia and New Zealand into an army corps and so was born the ANZACS. Birdwood was front and centre on the ground at Gallipoli and when the decision was made to withdraw, he was responsible for the evacuation of the troops.
Every year, on 25th April, in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is celebrated. It is a National Day of Remembrance to acknowledge the date of the first campaign in 1915, the landing at Gallipoli.
So, what was Lord Birdwood and his family doing in our locality?
The opportunity to reside in an apartment in Hampton Court remains in the gift of the Government or the Royal Family, and is used as a reward for those who have given exemplary service. Birdwood was living at Deal Castle until 1939, when a German Bombing raid destroyed most of his accommodation. King George VI arranged for the Birdwood family to move into the Palace. Life in the Palace apartments was not all that comfortable. Birdwood’s Grandson recalled that the place was ‘infested’ and coal fires heated the apartment. Apparently, Lord Birdwood would gather up the coals from the fire and when cooled would put them aside to use again – very frugal! Birdwood preferred to walk miles rather than use the car he was entitled to, ‘wasteful’ he called it! Birdwood was also known to set off in his full Field Marshall regalia using public transport when travelling to official engagements (that must have been a sight to see).
Lord Birdwood died in 1951 and was buried in Twickenham Cemetery with full military honours.
The Old Historian
Vol 14; No 16 Lord Birdwood
Yes, all gone. Some moved out, some passed on to the Great Palace in the Sky.
Rooms mostly used as offices for the palace, which is more of a museum and tourist venue, now. Would make a high status hotel if they modernised it (central heating, plumbing)
Rooms mostly used as offices for the palace, which is more of a museum and tourist venue, now. Would make a high status hotel if they modernised it (central heating, plumbing)
What a great idea!