In Etaples Military Cemetery, France  is the Commonwealth War Grave of 21084 Private William Bird, serving with the 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment who died 24/08/1915.

The son of Mrs. Jane Flynn, of Newcastle upon Tyne.

William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-

William Bird was the son of William and Jane (nee Train) at Newcastle on 16th September 1894. The couple married at Newcastle in 1890. Apart from William they had 3 daughters together, Jane E., Louisa and Barbara. It appears William died (c) 1900 as Jane remarried Irishman, Henry Flynn, at Newcastle in 1901. That union produced another daughter, Henrietta.

By 1911 the census shows most of the living together at 50 St Ann Street, Newcastle. William was working as a general labourer at that time.

William enlisted into the army at Newcastle. By 13th July 1915 he was serving in France. Unfortunately, after only 6 weeks at the front William died of wounds on Tuesday 24th August 1915 at the Canadian General Hospital, Etaples. He was aged 21.

He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Newspapers articles in Newcastle Journal and Evening Chronicle on 26/08/1915 recorded his death from wounds.

William Bird is not remembered on a local War Memorial.