NAM.1967-07-19-23

Lett’s No 35 Colonial Rough Diary, 1910. From a collection of 1414 papers of FM William, Lord Birdwood, relating chiefly to his career in the Indian Army, 1882-1930. Birdwood’s 1910 diary opens with a list of troops in his command and a note to the effect that he had been gazetted Companion of the Order of the Star of India. After a period of exercises, manoeuvres and inspections, he left Bombay on 19 February for leave in England. Arriving on 3 March, he was based in Thurlby in Lincolnshire with his in-laws Col Sir Benjamin Parnell Bromhead and his wife Hannah. His daughter Judith Horatia was born on 5 March and he recommenced cycling, sometimes over 50 miles a day. As aide de camp to Kitchener he took part in the cortege procession of Edward VII and as aide de camp to George V in the funeral on 20 May. He was invested with the Companion of the Order of the Star of India by George V on 21 June. He travelled to various parts of the country, helped Kitchener to find himself a house and left on 29 September to return to Kohat and his duties as Brigade Commander there.

State Funeral of King Edward VII, 1910 (Ceremonial Events 1900-1999)