22474 Major-General Horace Leslie BIRKS, CB, DSO, MiD*, Royal Tank Regiment

Personal Number: 22474
Rank: Major-General
Name: Horace Leslie BIRKS, CB, DSO, MiD*
Unit: Royal Tank Regiment


London Gazette : 6 May 1932
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33823/page/2969/data.pdf
Capt. H. L. Birks, R. Tank Corps, from Staff Capt., 55th (W. Lan.) Div., T.A., to be G.S.O., 3rd Grade, W. Comd. 1st May 1932.

London Gazette : 25 January 1935
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34127/page/613/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF.
The undermentioned appts. are made :—
Capt. H. L. Birks, R. Tank Corps, to be G.S.O. 2nd Grade, War Office. 19th Jan. 1935.

London Gazette : 3 January 1936
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34239/page/54/data.pdf
HALF-YEARLY BREVETS.
The undermentioned promotions are made. 1st Jan. 1936: -
To be Bt. Majs.
Capt. H. L. Birks, R. Tank Corps.

London Gazette : 15 October 1937
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34444/page/6373/data.pdf
ROYAL TANK CORPS.
Capt. & Bt. Maj. H. L. Birks is restd. to the estabt. 14th Oct. 1937.

London Gazette : 1 April 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1870/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned for distinguished services in the Middle East during the period August, 1939, to November, 1940: —
Royal Armoured Corps.
Birks, Lt.-Col. H. L. (22474), R.T.R.

London Gazette : 25 April 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35144/supplement/2345/data.pdf
Artillery.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East:—
The Distinguished Service Order.
Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary Colonel) Horace Leslie Birks (22474), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

London Gazette : 8 July 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35209/supplement/3885/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned for distinguished services in the Middle East during the period December, 1940, to February, 1941:-
COMMANDS AND STAFF.
Birks, Lt.-Col. (temp. Col.) H. L ., D.S.O. (22474), R.T.R.

London Gazette : 1 January 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35844/supplement/79/data.pdf
War Subs. Lt.-Col. (temp. Col.) (temp. Brig.) H. L. Birks, D.S.O. (22474) R.T.R. is granted the actg. rank of Maj.-Gen., 21st Dec. 1942.

London Gazette : 24 December 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36298/supplement/5579/data.pdf
War Subs. Lt.-Col. (temp. Brig.) (actg. Maj.-Gen.) H. L. Birks, D.S.O. (22474), R.A.C., to be temp. Maj.-Gen. and War Subs. Col. 21st Dec. 1943.

London Gazette : 24 March 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36437/supplement/1373/data.pdf
The undermentioned to be Cols.: —
War Subs. Col. (temp. Maj.-Gen.) H. L. Birks, D.S.O. (22474) from R.T.R., 1st Jan. 1944, with sen. 21st Dec. 1943.

London Gazette : 29 September 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36721/supplement/4475/data.pdf
Col. H. L. Birks, D.S.O. (22474), to be re-granted the temp, rank of Maj.-Gen., 28th Aug. 1944. Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette (Supplement) dated 22nd Sept. 1944.

London Gazette : 13 December 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37386/supplement/6055/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy: —
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Honourable Order:—
Major-General (temporary) Horace Leslie BIRKS, D.S.O. (22474), late Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

London Gazette : 2 August 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37673/supplement/3927/data.pdf
Col. H. L. BIRKS, C.B., D.S.O. (22474) retires on ret. pay, 1st Aug. 1946, and is granted the hon. rank of Maj.-Gen.

 

London Gazette : 8 July 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35209/supplement/3885/data.pdf

 

London Gazette : 1 April 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1869/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1870/data.pdf

 

Birks, Horace Leslie (Oral history)

• Object description
• British officer served with Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1916-1917; served with No 2 Coy, D Bn Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917; served with Tank Corps in GB, 1918-1924; served with 1st Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1924-1926; served as staff officer at Staff College, Quetta in India, 1927-1928; served with 6th Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1929-1930; served as staff officer with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1931-1934; served with 1st Light Bn Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934; served as staff officer at War Office, London, GB, 1934-1937

• REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1897-1915: family; education; reasons for enlistment with London Rifle Bde. Recollections of training as officer with Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1916-1917: question of how experiences as NCO with 1/5th (City of London) Bn (London Rifle Bde), 169th Bde, 56th (London) Div during Battle of the Somme, 1916 effected his views on warfare; selection for tank training; machine gun training at Pirbright Camp; driving and maintenance course at Bovington Camp; gunnery course at Lulworth Camp; first experience of driving tank; use of pigeons; opinion of training.
• REEL 2 Continues: description of training establishment at Bovington Camp including courses and instructors; driving and gunnery training; firing on the move and from stationary positions. Recollections of operations as officer with 2 Coy, D Bn, Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917: joining unit; use of Mark II Tank; organisation of battalion; duties of tank commander and crew; preference for 'male' tanks; lack of tactical role for tanks; question of motivation; degree of mechanical knowledge amongst tank crews; attack on Saint-Julien, Belgium; problems with Lewis Machine Gun and tank reliability.
• REEL 3 Continues: limited visibility through observation flaps and periscopes; danger of splash caused by penetration fire through gaps in tank hull; description of ancillary equipment; salvage procedure for abandoned tanks; attack on Poelkapelle, Belgium, 17/10/1917; unit morale; preparations for action at Cambrai, France including preparation of fascines, briefing and security; move to start line.
• REEL 4 Continues: preparations for attack at Cambrai, France, 1917; move up to start line; attack at Cambrai, France; casualties amongst crew and damage to tank during Battle of Cambrai; unit morale after Battle of Cambrai; opinion of Major General J F C Fuller. Recollections of period as officer with Tank Corps in GB, 1918-1924: decision to remain with Tank Corps after 1918; training White Russians at Bovington Camp, 1919; post-war uncertainty about future of Tank Corps and role of tanks; unit establishment at Bovington Camp, 1919; memories of Lieutenant General Sir Hugh Elles and commandants at Royal Tank Corps Depot at Bovington.
• REEL 5 Continues: flag signaling procedure; driver and maintenance organisation; friction between armoured car and tank staff; organisation of driver and maintenance and gunnery training; driving instructor duties; relative merits of firing on the move or from stationary position; reaction to permanent establishment of Tank Corps; reasons for promotion blockage; quality of officers; NCOs and other rank recruits.
• REEL 6 Continues: Lieutenant Colonel George Lindsay's revitalisation of training programme; stabilising effect of permanent establishment; attitude of Royal Tank Corps to mechanisation of cavalry. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1924-1929: posting to unit at Quetta, 1924; duties; attitude of Indian Army officers towards Royal Tank Corps; garrison life and duties; obtaining place at Staff College, Quetta, 1927.
• REEL 7 Continues: meeting with Colonel Percy Hobart; posting to 6th Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps, 1929-1930. Recollections of period as staff officer with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1930-1934: initial posting to 2nd Bn Royal Tank Corps, 1930; staff appointment to Western Command, 1931; question of army's indifference to mechanised warfare; duties during summer manoeuvres; John Burnett-Stuart's attitude towards tanks; effectiveness of tanks; question of Basil Liddell Hart's interest in tanks. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Light Bn Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934: background to posting to unit; attending Mobile Force exercise, 1934; Colonel Percy Hobart's tactical ideas, 1934.
• REEL 8 Continues: gunnery techniques; Mobile Force exercises. Recollections of period as staff officer with War Office in London, GB, 1934-1937: staff duties; problems in tank design; officer selection procedure; formation of Royal Armoured Corps; opinion of Inspector of the Tank Corps Lieutenant General Sir Hugh Elles; Percy Hobart's personality and his ideas on mechanised warfare; question of hostility of War Office towards mechanisation. Aspects of period as tank instructor at Staff College, Quetta, India, 1937-1939: posting to Staff College, Quetta, 1937; question of hostility of Indian Army to mechanisation.
• REEL 9 Continues: appointment to General Percy Hobart's Mobile Force (Egypt) in Egypt; story of General Percy Hobart's dismissal from his command.

 

See also:

• Horace Birks - Wikipedia
• Biography of Major-General Horace Leslie Birks (1897 – 1985), Great Britain
  
• Horace Leslie Birks - National Portrait Gallery
  
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• BBC - The Great War Interviews, Horace Leslie Birks
• Horace Leslie Birks sailed for France in 1915 as a Private with the 5th Batallion of the London Rifle Brigade. Having been wounded at Gommecourt in July 1916, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Crops heavy branch and became a Second Lieutenant in February 1917. He recalls his nervousness when first ordered to command a tank in action at Passchendaele, and what it was like to operate inside those hot, steamy, and altogether claustrophobic cockpits while machine-gun fire and shells rained down. Next came Cambrai, the first battle to use tanks en masse.