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Clip description
This clip from a home movie filmed by Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, features a close-up of Lord Birdwood looking at the camera and presenting Hampton Court.
Curator’s notes
Lord William Riddell Birdwood was given command by Lord Kitchener of the Australia and New Zealand forces that served in Europe during the First World War.
Birdwood’s first task was to command troops to land on the Gallipoli Peninsula. After discussion with the Royal Navy, Birdwood convinced Kitchener to allot more troops but at the same time Kitchener appointed General Sir Ian Hamilton to chief-in-command. Hamilton disregarded Birdwood’s advice and ordered the troops to land on 25 April.
During the seven months in which the battle continued, Birdwood became a popular officer and contributed strongly to the Anzac morale. He was later appointed commander of the Australian Imperial Force in 1916, expanded the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in Egypt and eventually sailed to France to command the 1st Anzac Corps where he built up the AIF base and training establishments in England.
Birdwood died here at Hampton Court in 1951, only three years after this clip was filmed.
