A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Bird, Royal Army Medical Corps

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with clasp (Major. E. B. Bird. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. E. B. Bird.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, unnamed as issued, with integral top riband bar; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with silver star emblem on riband, mounted as worn and housed in a Spink, London, leather case; together with a set of six related miniature awards, the TD lacking top riband bar, this mounted for display, generally very fine and better (6) £1,200-£1,600

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1927.

Elliot Beverley Bird was born on 24 March 1881, the only son of George Bird, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and was educated at Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Dublin. Commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps, he served during the Great War with both the 26th Field Ambulance and the 3rd Wessex Field Ambulance on the Western Front from 6 November 1914, and was advanced Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. For his services during the Great War he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, was four times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 22 June 1915; 21 January 1917; 24 December 1917; and 25 May 1918), and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 19 June 1919).

Remaining in the Territorial Force post-War, Bird was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1925 (London Gazette 3 November 1925). In civilian life he was Hon. Radiologist at the Royal Portsmouth Hospital and the War Memorial Hospital at Gosport; and a Consultant Radiologist at Petersfield Cottage Hospital. A keen yachtsman, he was a member of the Royal Albert yacht Club, Southsea, and the Royal Portsmouth Corinthian Yacht Club, Portsmouth. He changed his name by deed poll to Steeds-Bird in 1926, and died on 16 May 1945.

Sold with a file of copied research.

London Gazette date should read 1 January 1917