BIRD FAMILY Photo Tribute

A Photo Tribute to the BIRD FAMILY from India

Please email photos for inclusion to Russel Fonceca at sumgenius@gmail.com

Contributions from all the members of the Bird Family http://www.sumgenius.com.au/bird_family_tree.htm

The BIRDs contributed much to the Railways in Southern India and were well and truly known in Bitragunta and other railway colonies. Many of our Anglo Indian boys gave their services to the railways and spent war years in the services. In Bitragunta the boys spent their younger years fishing and shooting wild game in the forests which they shared with the local villagers. The girls were good cooks and had old family recipes passed down to them.

The Bird family eventually settled in 52 Officers Lines in Pallavaram, an Anglo Indian colony in Madras near the airport at Meenambakkam. In his article on the anglo indian colony in Pallavaram, titled " A Village in India", Ken Bird (son of Rex and Betty Bird) illustrates the life in that colony and in India in general. The link to the website that provides a history of the Bird family in India is http://www.kenbirddesigns.com.au/village/pages/bettybird.html .

The photo below of Pallavram Hill with its quarry will bring back memories to many of the residents. Officers lines is at the bottom of the picture.

Pallavaram Hill

The family home at "52" was full of fruit trees including mangoes, cherimoya's, chikoo's, custard-apples, bulls hearts and coconut palms and had large banyan trees in the front which were frequented by monkeys.

The boys erected a swing on one of the high boughs of one of the banyan trees and this swung over the boundary wall past one of the two property wells when used. There was a large concrete floor at the back of the compound where dances were organised and was the scene of many a family gathering. The open "maidan" in front of Officers Lines and bordering Veteran Lines was used for cricket and hockey matches organised by the local Social Club.

Following the partition of India in 1947, many of the BIRD families followed the exodus of Anglo Indians that left India for abroad and settled in Australia and in the UK.

The record below of the names and photographs of the BIRD family, contributed by all the cousins, will hopefully help future generations have a better picture of the journey taken by their great great grand parents, aunts and uncles.

Family Tree

Violet Constance BIRD (known as Sweet Violet, b 6/11/1887 Pallavaram, d 10/5/1954 Pallavaram) married 1st cousin Robert Charles BIRD, (b 28/07/1881 Perambur - d 16/01/1964 Pallavaram). : 27 Children (9 stillborn),

George Willoughby BIRD (b 1/11/1905 Tungabhadra-30/08/1958 Pallavaram)
Malcolm Eustace BIRD(b 6/01/1907 Podanur - 12/12/1908 Oorgaum)
Milton Wallace BIRD (b 24/12/1908 Oorgaum - 28/08/1909)
Leslie Colin BIRD (b 2/4/1910 Kondapuram, d Adelaide)
Hector Russel BIRD (b 6/5/1911 Podanur, d Bangalore)
Eugene Charles BIRD (b 5/9/1912 Raichur - d Hubli)
Oscar Victor BIRD (b 20/09/1913 Raichur, d Perth)
Molly Marjorie BIRD (b 20/11/1914 Ambur - 23/08/1916 Ambur)
Ivy Ross BIRD (b 24/09/1917 Renigunta, d Perth)
Lancelot Basil BIRD (b 31/01/1919 Gooty, d 7/12/2013 UK)
Rex Reginald BIRD (b 14/08/1920 Gooty, d Perth)
Wilbur Terance BIRD (b 13/10/1921 Katpadi - d 12/05/1984 Perth)
Gladwin Sunbun BIRD (b 11/06/1923 Katpadi - d Perth)
Burnett Elston BIRD (b 27/12/1924 Katpadi - d Gooty)
Beryl Holly BIRD(b 13/04/1927 Kasimkota, d Perth)
Zena Helena BIRD (b 18/06/1928 Rajahmundry, d Perth)
Allan Claude BIRD (b 7/11/1929 - d UK)
Robin Edgar BIRD (b 7/11/1929 - d 5/2/1988 Bitragunta).
Zena (bending) and Beryl on the right enjoying peanuts from a vendor (wonder who the little one is)

********************************************************************************************************************

Robert & Violet BIRD are in the middle on his retirement from the Railways in Bitragunta (as the Station Superintendent) and handing over to the new station superintendent who is seated with his wife on either side. Willow and Ivy are seated on the extremes.

On the floor left to right are Robin, Bunny, Zena, Beryl, Elston & Alan. These were the younger Bird children still in school when Robert retired. The 2 boys in dark coats are the children of the new superintendent.

Can you provide names, dates and places for these photos...

Beryl, Violet Constance BIRD and Zena
Hector, Oscar & Robin sampling some Toddy
The Group in Perth
The Group at Colette and Randy's wedding.
Aunty Betty, Noel and Cyril.
On Lance's visit to Perth. Standing: Oscar, Zena, Peter. Seated: Lance, Brian, Zena, Rex, Ivy
Beryl and Zena in the front, on the steps of 52.
Hector on duty somewhere in the middle-east
Clockwise: Maisie, Hector, Avis, Oscar, Bunny, Cynthia at 52.
Group at 24 Thrall St on Hector's visit to Perth
Bird Family possibly at 52 with Violet Bird in the front.
The Gentlemen on the steps of 52.
The Ladies on the steps of 52
Oscar the Javelin thrower
Maisie, Hector & Zena
Oscar & Avis Wedding
Oscar off for a hockey match
8 Birds
BIRD Family Album compiled by Milton Bird
Who are these
Is that Beryl on the top and Zena in the middle
Beryl, Violet Bird and ? on tricycle
Superintendent Robert Bird on railway duty
? and Beryl
Recognise Noel, Ivy and Beryl
Beryl on the right
Trevor & Beryl Fleming
Zena and Beryl
Beryl, David, Mark & Joan
Trevor & Beryl Fleming with children David, Mark & Joan
Mark, Joan, David, Beryl & Trevor possibly at Simper St, Wembley
On holiday Cyril, Noel, Zena, Beryl & Ivy
Beryl & Ivy
Heather, Teddy & Ingrid
Lance and Jennifer (Teddy in bridal party)
Lance in the UK
A rare photo of Robert & Violet Bird with some of the children and partners.
Oscar and Avis at a beach in India
Oscar at Javelin throw his main sports event
Oscar with his trophies, school and state
Ted, Hector & Oscar with Mum Violet Bird
Robert Bird at the back of 52 with Oscar and family
Zena, Avis, Oscar, Brian, Peter and David taken about 1961 in India on their way to a relatives wedding for which Zena was the Bridesmaid and Brian the Best man!
Uncle Lancy and Aunty Ivy (babes in India)