The son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam W. Bird of Port Alma; later called Merlin. Prior to enlistment, he worked in Leamington. Maurice Bird was married to Ruth and was living at 230 King St., Wallaceburg and they had a son named Terry.

Maurice joined the 1^st Kent Regiment in August of 1940, did his basic training at No. 12 B.T.C., Chatham, ON. Rifleman BIRD served overseas with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

While still in Chatham Maurice wrote the following thank-you letter to the local Red Cross:

      Chatham, Ont.

October 1, 1940

Dear Mrs. Odette,

I am writing you so that I may thank you for the wonderful gifts that I received.

I was very much surprised and happy when I opened the package and saw what I received from the Red Cross of Tilbury and am hoping that I may someday be able to thank them in person from the bottom of my heart.

Yours truly,

Pte. Maurice Robert Bird.

Chatham, Ont.

 

He went overseas in May, 1942 with the Highland Light Infantry. He later transferred to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles with who he landed with on D-Day. The Red Cross reported him as wounded on 15 August 1944 while serving in France. The WN 31/08/44 reported that Maurice’s wife received information from the Director of Records – Ottawa that her husband was “officially” reported as Wounded In Action on 15 August, 1944. “The nature of the wounds was not announced.” The CDN 12/09/44(P) reported Rflmn. Bird had been wounded in France serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

Maurice also had four brothers in active service Tpr. Ellwood (A118145)  in France, Pte. Elmer (E.G.) in England, Max in the RCAF (WAG) in Saskatchewan and Harvey in the RCNVR (Cook) at Windsor. Reported arriving at Halifax, NS. aboard the S. S. “Nieu Amsterdam”, 9 Sept., 1945. Expected to arrive at Lachine, PQ on the 11^th for leave to return to their homes. CDN 10/09/45.

A photo of Maurice is found in the RLC. serving with the Imperial Army. CDN 9/08/45(P). Arrived home 11 Sep. 1945. CDN11/09/45(P). Reported being welcomed back to Chatham from overseas duty by Alderman George Kerr KC., A. G. Goodman and Bert Joyce also by Rehabilitation Officer William Foreman and Alex Copeland for the Civil Reception Committee along with hundreds of citizens. CDN 12/09/45. 

Maurice volunteered for service in the Pacific. CDN 9/08/45(P)

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	CDN (11-09-1945), CDN (10-09-1945), CDN (12-09-1945), KCFA, DMS,, ST, RLC(5), RLC,TT (24/10/40)
Supplemental Information	The son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bird of Merlin he had worked in Leamington prior to enlistment. Rfmn Bird was married to Ruth and was living at 230 King St., Wallaceburg they had a son Terry.

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