THREAD (1 of 15)
1935 (20 Dec) marbled-blue cover to Detective-Sergeant J. Birch, Criminal Investigation Department, Melbourne, from a sender in Dunedin, New Zealand; solo 1935 1d Kiwi (SG 557) tied to cover with “BUY HEALTH STAMPS FOR HEALTH CAMPS” slogan cancel.
#philately
1935 (20 Dec) marbled-blue cover to Detective-Sergeant J. Birch, Criminal Investigation Department, Melbourne, from a sender in Dunedin, New Zealand; solo 1935 1d Kiwi (SG 557) tied to cover with “BUY HEALTH STAMPS FOR HEALTH CAMPS” slogan cancel.
#philately
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Matching marbled-blue paper Christmas card enclosed with picture of Mt. Egmont mounted on front. Also known as Mt. Taranaki, the mountain is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island with an elevation of 2,518 m.
Matching marbled-blue paper Christmas card enclosed with picture of Mt. Egmont mounted on front. Also known as Mt. Taranaki, the mountain is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island with an elevation of 2,518 m.
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Written inside the card is a short message which reads “with best wishes for Christmas 1935. from Jim Gibson”.
Below, we will learn a little more about the recipient, James Richard Birch, and look for a contemporaneous link between Birch and NZ.
Written inside the card is a short message which reads “with best wishes for Christmas 1935. from Jim Gibson”.
Below, we will learn a little more about the recipient, James Richard Birch, and look for a contemporaneous link between Birch and NZ.
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James Richard Birch was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on
21 Aug 1882; the eldest son of Richard Birch (b. Kent, England) and Emily Jones (b.Herefordshire, England). His parents had married 6 Jul 1874 at St. Phillips in Collingwood, Victoria; and lived in Coburg.
James Richard Birch was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on
21 Aug 1882; the eldest son of Richard Birch (b. Kent, England) and Emily Jones (b.Herefordshire, England). His parents had married 6 Jul 1874 at St. Phillips in Collingwood, Victoria; and lived in Coburg.
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During the 1899-1902 South African War, Birch served with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. During that conflict, he was slightly wounded at Brereton (28/11/1901), and was Mentioned in Dispatches (London Gazette; 29/07/1902).
During the 1899-1902 South African War, Birch served with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. During that conflict, he was slightly wounded at Brereton (28/11/1901), and was Mentioned in Dispatches (London Gazette; 29/07/1902).
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Birch joined the Victorian Police Force in 1903 after returning from South Africa. He was initially stationed at Carlton in Melbourne as a plain-clothes constable, before being transferred to Russell Street in 1921 after 17 years of service.
Birch joined the Victorian Police Force in 1903 after returning from South Africa. He was initially stationed at Carlton in Melbourne as a plain-clothes constable, before being transferred to Russell Street in 1921 after 17 years of service.
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During the 1930s, police forces around Australia established 'special branches' to police 'subversives'. Victoria's "Political Squad" as they were known, was considered one of the toughest and most ruthless. Established in 1930-1, it was headed by Birch.
During the 1930s, police forces around Australia established 'special branches' to police 'subversives'. Victoria's "Political Squad" as they were known, was considered one of the toughest and most ruthless. Established in 1930-1, it was headed by Birch.
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According to the book "Noel Counihan: Artist and Revolutionary", Birch was "an enormous, bullet-headed man possessed of a choleric temper" and his squad "behaved like thugs". Counihan's "The New Order" (1942) captures the mood of the time.
According to the book "Noel Counihan: Artist and Revolutionary", Birch was "an enormous, bullet-headed man possessed of a choleric temper" and his squad "behaved like thugs". Counihan's "The New Order" (1942) captures the mood of the time.
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Birch was due to retire in 1942, but under National Security Regulations his service was extended until the end of WWII. As head of Special Branch, as it became known, Birch kept a close watch on State political matters and co-operated with Military Intelligence.
Birch was due to retire in 1942, but under National Security Regulations his service was extended until the end of WWII. As head of Special Branch, as it became known, Birch kept a close watch on State political matters and co-operated with Military Intelligence.
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Birch was directly responsible for rounding up enemy aliens during the first days of the war. In a report that appeared in The Age, on 9 Dec 1941, Birch arranged for 20 Japanese nationals to be rounded up & interned. Similar actions occurred in other states.
Birch was directly responsible for rounding up enemy aliens during the first days of the war. In a report that appeared in The Age, on 9 Dec 1941, Birch arranged for 20 Japanese nationals to be rounded up & interned. Similar actions occurred in other states.
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But what links Birch to NZ & the 1935 cover?
In 1934, the Duke of Gloucester visited Australia to participate in the centenary celebrations of Victoria; during which he unveiled and dedicated Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
But what links Birch to NZ & the 1935 cover?
In 1934, the Duke of Gloucester visited Australia to participate in the centenary celebrations of Victoria; during which he unveiled and dedicated Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
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In Dec 1934, the Duke departed Australia to continue his tour in New Zealand. The Herald newspaper, reporting on the retirement of Birch on 30 Dec 1946, states that Birch was the “official escort for the Duke of Gloucester when he visited New Zealand”.
In Dec 1934, the Duke departed Australia to continue his tour in New Zealand. The Herald newspaper, reporting on the retirement of Birch on 30 Dec 1946, states that Birch was the “official escort for the Duke of Gloucester when he visited New Zealand”.
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In 1947, Birch, as former head of the Victorian Police special counter-espionage branch who retired from the force after 44-years of continuous service, was awarded the King’s Medal for distinguished conduct.
In 1947, Birch, as former head of the Victorian Police special counter-espionage branch who retired from the force after 44-years of continuous service, was awarded the King’s Medal for distinguished conduct.
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On being interviewed by journalists, Birch’s stated that he had only done his job, and produced another (unofficial) award from Royalty, a watch formerly belonging to the Duke of Gloucester, who had given it to him in 1935 after Birch had accompanied him on his NZ visit.
On being interviewed by journalists, Birch’s stated that he had only done his job, and produced another (unofficial) award from Royalty, a watch formerly belonging to the Duke of Gloucester, who had given it to him in 1935 after Birch had accompanied him on his NZ visit.
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I believe that Jim Gibson, who sent the Christmas Card, was Chief Detective James Gibson of Dunedin, who was also attached to the 1934-35 tour of New Zealand by the Duke of Gloucester; as outlined in this article from the Otago Daily Times of 14 Sep 1948.
I believe that Jim Gibson, who sent the Christmas Card, was Chief Detective James Gibson of Dunedin, who was also attached to the 1934-35 tour of New Zealand by the Duke of Gloucester; as outlined in this article from the Otago Daily Times of 14 Sep 1948.
PS1. While Birch received a watch from the Duke of Gloucester at the end of the 1935 Royal Tour, Gibson received "a striking silver pencil, engraved with the Royal arms". It seems that each of the police officers attached to the Royal party received a momento of the visit.
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