Lieutenant, 5th Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action 9 May 1915. Born 28 September 1883 at Yiewsley, Middlesex. In the 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914 Register of Electors he was resident and renting the front room on the first floor of Trent Cottages, Ludgrove, New Barnet, Middlesex (also listed as Hertfordshire). In the 1891 census he was aged 7, born Yiewsley, Middlesex, son of Henry George and Henrietta M Bird, resident St Andrews Vicarage, Hillingdon Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex. Matriculated New College, Oxford University, 1902. In the 1911 census he was aged 27, born Yiewsley Middlesex, unmarried, a Schoolmaster at Ludgrove, New Barnet, East Barnet, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 32 and 33. Also commemorated on New College War Memorial, Oxford University and also on St Peters Church Cross, Newdigate, Surrey.

Note: At his birth he was registered as Harold Frederick George, but later changed to Wilfred Stanley. Reason unknown.

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour 1914-1918, volume 1, page 35:

BIRD, WILFRED STANLEY, M.A. Oxon, Lieut., 6th (Reserve), attached 2nd, Battn. King's Royal Rifle Corps, s. of the Rev. Henry George Bird, M.A., Rector of Newdigate, co. Surrey, by his wife, Henrietta Maria, dau. of William Greenham, of Hendford House, near Yeovil, J.P.; b. Yiewsley Vicarage, co. Middlesex, 28 Sept. 1883. He commenced his education at the Grange (Preparatory) School, Eastbourne, where he captained the cricket and football teams, and was an immense favourite with the masters and boys alike. He later proceeded to Malvern and entered the College at the time Canon Sidney James came to be Headmaster. There he represented his College in cricket, fives and football. His company also won the College Cup for military drill. In 1902 he was entered at New College, Oxford, and his early promise of being a leading sportsman was fully realised. He represented Oxford in cricket on three successive seasons, and was Captain of the Oxford side in 1906. He was a member of the Middlesex Team, though circumstances prevented him from playing in more than two or three matches during the season. He played for the Gentlemen against the Players, and was asked to represent England in South Africa and Australia. He was an extremely careful and good batsman, but specially excelled as a wicket keeper, and one of the best known captains in England said: "He is the best wicket keeper I ever saw." After leaving Oxford. where he won for himself many friends, he became a master at Ludgrove. It was here that he spent the last eight years of his life. His record there is a fulfilment of the promise of his early days at Eastbourne and Malvern, and his keenness on everything to do with Ludgrove, and his willingness to put himself out for others, endeared him to masters and boys alike. He was immensely happy there and It was a terrific struggle to answer the call, but he never failed to recognise his duty. A member of the O.T.C., he was gazetted Lieut. to the 8th Battn. of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, 29 Dec. 1914, and was afterwards attached to the 2nd Battn. at the Front. He was killed, 9 May, 1915, while gallantly leading his platoon near Richebourg St. Vaast; unm. His Major wrote of him: "Bird was gallantly leading his men when he was shot, and died instantly." He adds: "Bird was a splendid fellow. and a very promising officer and very popular with officers and men alike. I am more than sorry to lose him."

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1915: