Derek ‘Dickie’ Bird 1955-2026

Derek ‘Dickie’ Bird managed to steer the Scotland (North) Branch, the most remote and largest in terms of area UK branch, through the 27 years of his chairmanship between 1998 and 2026.  Indeed, some of his branch members in the Shetland Isles live almost as close to Norway as they do to Elgin where meetings are held!

Over this period, he arranged about 160 meetings, two battlefield tours and organised commemorative events, at both home and abroad.  These included an event, in conjunction with the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, to mark the departure of No.2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC), who flew south to join the rest of the RFC on 3 August 1914, the day before war was declared.  A highlight was the departure from the old Montrose airfield of a replica SE5 carrying a wreath to RAF Leuchars, from where it was transferred to London to join those representing all the units that crossed to France in August 1914. They were all then taken to France for the commemorative events ten days later at Amiens and Arras, organised by the late Lt. Col. Graham Parker, which Derek also attended and assisted with the arrival of a number of DeHavilland aircraft representing the BE2s that had arrived 100 years before.

In 2006, after two years fundraising, he erected the replacement flagstaff at Beaumont Hamel, as the original, unveiled by the 51st (Highland) Division in 1924, had become semi-derelict some years before, and thereafter he has, in conjunction with the village, organised the annual commemoration on 13 November.

In 2008 he completed ten years of research and self-published The Spirit of the Troops is Excellent, a history of the 6th (Morayshire) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, in the Great War.

Over the centenary period, he worked with Jill Stewart (WFA Honorary Secretary) as they each submitted more than 200 weekly articles to the local newspaper, the Northern Scot, detailing the progress of the war with particular emphasis on how it affected Moray, and to highlight local casualties. In 2017 he also helped to plan a local commemoration and display for the Battle of Arras, the battle that claimed the most local lives during the war. He also organised a branch project to have a commemoration at their graveside, on the centenary of their death, for the men who died and are buried in the county.

He was also a founding member of the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association and edited their newsletter, and in 2022, he graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with an MA in Britain and the History of the First World War.

Beyond the WFA, Derek was born in a village near Brighton, Sussex, in July 1955 and developed an early interest in aviation that led him to join the Royal Air Force (RAF)  as an apprentice, aged just 16. Postings followed to Brize Norton, Oxfordshire; Wattisham, Suffolk and Binbrook, Lincolnshire, before a posting to Germany, from where he made his first trip to see the Great War battlefields over the 1981 Easter weekend.  Returning to the UK after three years meant a posting to Odiham, Hampshire, before a move up to Lossiemouth, Scotland, in 1985, where he remained until retirement, apart from six months spent in Belize in 1988.

Along the way, he worked on a wide variety of aircraft, including the Britannia, Lightning, Puma helicopters, Buccaneer, Hunter and Tornado, as well as working in component repair bays, on major structural repairs and as an Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Instructor; before ending up deskbound in Engineering Operations, the last 12 years as a Full Time Reservist.  

During his service, he was awarded a Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany Commendation; two Air Officer Commanding Group Commendations and the RAF Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Clasp.  Final retirement came in 2015 at the age of 60 and, in receipt of his RAF pension, he said “I never worried about seeking further employment”! He also did much to reunite members of his apprentice entry and arranged their first reunion in 2011 to mark the 40th anniversary of joining the RAF, and a 50th anniversary of passing out reunion in October 2023.

In 2024, he achieved something very special that combined his interests in aviation and WW1 when visiting New Zealand and was given the chance to act as the rear gunner in a 1917 Bristol F2B Fighter during an airborne photographic shoot.  Previous aviation highlights included flights in a Lightning and a Spitfire, and an “interesting” flight in a Puma helicopter along Portuguese forest fire breaks at below tree-top height!

Derek had also been helping in the restoration of Avro Lancaster NX611, ‘Just Jane’, at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, to an airworthy standard whenever he was able to incorporate time on his way to or from France, or other commitments in England.

Derek died of pancreatic and liver cancer on 21st March 2026 and leaves a widow and daughter, along with many friends from the RAF and the battlefields.

Per Ardua Ad Astra.