Christopher Birdwood, 2nd Baron Birdwood

Who was Christopher Birdwood, 2nd Baron Birdwood?

Christopher Bromhead Birdwood, 2nd Baron Birdwood, MVO, was a British hereditary peer, soldier and author.

The son of Field Marshal Lord Birdwood and Janetta Hope Gonville Bromhead. He was baptised at Twickenham, London, England.

Lord Birdwood was educated at Clifton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Berkshire. He was commissioned as a second Lieutenant on to the Unattached List, Indian Army on 21 December 1917. In France he was Aide-de-Camp to the General Officer Commanding the Australian Corps and 5th Army, his father, from 10 March 1918 to 28 February 1919. For his service he was Mentioned in Dispatches. He was decorated with the Order of Aviz of Portugal.

He arrivied in India on 10 April 1919 and was appointed to the Indian Army on 15 April 1919 and posted to the King Edward VII's Own Lancers of the Indian Army. As per the London Gazette of 12 September 1919 he was promoted Lieutenant, antedated to 22 December 1918. In February 1920 he was promoted Acting Captain whilst attached to the 2/76th Punjabis, additionally being made Adjutant in July 1920. He fought in the Waziristan Campaign between 1919 and 1920. He returned to the 11th KEO Lancers by March 1921, by which time they had amalgamated with the 12th Cavalry to form 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse. He was promoted to Captain on 21 December 1921.