Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member, Military Division (in silver with a gilt crown, measuring 18.8 mm (w) x 23 mm (h)); 1914-15 Star (in bronze gilt, measuring 19.7 mm (w) x 24.5 mm (h)); British War Medal, 5 Clasps - HELIGOLAND 28 AUG 14, DARDANELLES, NORTH SEA. 1916, NORTH SEA. 1917, NORTH SEA. 1918 (in silver, measuring 18.2 mm in diameter); Victory Medal (in bronze gilt, measuring 18 mm in diameter); 1939-1945 Star (in bronze, measuring 19 mm (w) x 22 mm (h)); Defence Medal (in silver, measuring 18 mm in diameter); War Medal 1939-1945 (in silver, measuring 18.3 mm in diameter); and King George V and Queen Mary Jubilee Medal 1935 (in silver, measuring 18 mm in diameter). Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, the five clasps privately purchased for the BWM, traces of gilt remains on the OBE, contact marks on the reverse of the Stars, wear evident in the text of the Heligoland clasp, better than very fine. Accompanied by assorted research papers, along with colour photocopies of various papers and photographs.
Footnote: George William Bird was born on November 23, 1890 at the Royal Marine Barracks, Deal, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Bird. The family moved to Sheerness in 1898, where Bird's father served as an Army and Navy Scripture Reader at the port and was actively identified with the Wesleyan Methodist Churches in the Sheerness Circuit. As a boy, young George attended Mile Town Boys' School, before becoming an Apprentice Engine Fitter at Sheerness Dockyard in 1905. Bird joined the Royal Navy in 1912, beginning his naval service with HMS Ettrick. During the First World War, he would serve with HMS Euryalus (1914), HMS Doon (1914) and HMS Bacchante (1917), followed in the post-war years serving with HMS Thanet (1919), HMS Cleopatra (1920) and HMS Caledon (1921). For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Bird achieved the rank of Warrant Engineer with HMS Repulse (1923), receiving the ceremonial Order of the Old Sea Dog in 1925. His service as a Warrant Engineer would take him to HMS Conquest (1926), HMS Cumberland (1929) and HMS Thracian as part of the Reserve Fleet (1933). Bird became a Commissioned Engineer with HMS Enchantress in 1935 and was a recipient of the King George V and Queen Mary Jubilee Medal the same year. By 1936, Lieutenant (Engineer) Bird was with HMS Dainty, then was posted to the Mechanical Training Establishment at Chatham in 1939, where he was assigned to HMS Jersey in 1940. As of November 23, 1940, he was officially placed on the Retired List but continued serving for the duration of the Second World War, which had begun the year before. In 1941, he was posted as Assistant to the Base Engineer Officer, working as an Engineer Officer Repairs, to the Londonderry Naval Base known as HMS Ferret, manned by workers from the Harland and Wolff yard at Belfast. Lieutenant (Engineer) George William Bird (Retired) was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member (MBE), the ceremony taking place at Buckingham Palace, where he was decorated by King George VI for gallantry and devotion to duty. On this occasion, he was accompanied by his wife and daughter, Miss Barbara Bird, who was an officer of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). His son, Geoffrey, was serving with the First Army in North Africa and had recently been promoted to Major in the Hampshire Regiment. The announcement of the award appeared in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 35841 of Tuesday, December 29, 1942, on Friday, January 1, 1943, page 8. For the latter part of the Second World War, he was assigned to HMS Ferret beginning in 1944. Upon the conclusion of the war, he officially retired from the Royal Navy in 1947. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. Lieutenant-Commander (Engineer) George William Bird died on April 15, 1979 at Teignmouth, Devon, at the age of 88.