BORN BALHAM, LONDON 23/03/1884. KNOWN ASD “VAL”. ELDEST SON OF WALTER WILLIAM BIRTLES (1852-1913) AND ALICE COPLEY, OF 303 BEVERLEY ROAD, HULL. EDUCATED AT HYMERS COLLEGE, HULL. WORKED AS A CLERK FOR THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY LTD, BRIDLINGTON. HIS FATHER WAS THE COMPANY MANAGER. HE MARRIED IN DARLINGTON, ON 03/04/1915. HIS WIFE NETTIE SAGGS FROM BRIDLINGTON, ALSO LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS.
HE VOLUNTEERED FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY ON 25/05/1916. SERVED IN FRANCE FROM 21/10/1916, FOR TWO AND HALF YEARS. TRANSFERRED TO THE ROYAL ENGINEERS IN AUGUST 1917. DIED OF INFLUENZA, AT VALENCIENNES, ON 24/11/1918, AGED 34. HE IS BURIED AT VALENCIENNES (ST. ROCH) COMMUNAL CEMETERY, NORD, FRANCE. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 23/11/1919.
HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON HULL’S HYMERS COLLEGE MEMORIAL. LISTED IN THE DE RUVIGNY ROLL OF HONOUR, VOLUME 5.
HE LEFT A WIDOW AND THREE SISTERS, MURIEL, LESLIE AND ENID.
