Flight Lieutenant Michael BIRKBECK RN
No. 1 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service

Date of birth: 4th May 1889
Date of death: 19th January 1961

Died aged 71
Unknown
Michael Birkbeck was born at North Runcton in Norfolk on the 4th of May 1889 the third son of William John Michael Birkbeck DL JP, a gentleman, and Rose Katherine (nee Gurney) Birkbeck of Stratton Strawless Hall in Norfolk and of 32 Sloane Gardens in London.

He was educated at Hazelwood until April 1902 where he was a member of the Choir. On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "... has been suddenly and untimely snapped up by an Eton master long before his proper time, in the way to which we are becoming accustomed with those considerate gentry. He is a good actor and chorister."

He went on to Eton College where he was in Mr. J.H.M. Hare's House from April 1902 to July 1903. He then went on to Repton School from September 1903 to December 1906 He matriculated for Clare College Cambridge in 1910.

Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 24th of November 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 27th of March 1915. At some point he served with the Scott Maxim Section which was a Scott motorcycle and sidecar combination with machine gun attached and a crew of two; there were several squadrons of these in the Royal Naval Air Service.

He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service with the rank of Flight Sub Lieutenant on probation on the 9th of July 1915 and was confirmed in his rank on the 6th of October 1915. He attended a "M" Course from the 18th of July 1915. He was awarded Aero Certificate No. 1876 at the Royal Naval Flying School, Eastchurch on the 31st of August 1915 flying a Maurice Farman biplane and was posted to No 1 Squadron on the 28th of September 1915 at Eastchurch for a navigation course. On the 20th of September 1915 the following comments were made on his progress as a pilot:-"Done 17-18 hours flying. Very promising and keen pilot. Has flown successfully, Caudron, M. Farman, Bleriot, Sopwith and Bristols. Good, level headed, with capacity in dealing with men".

He was on sick leave from the 29th of July to September 1916 and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 30th of June 1917. He resigned his commission on the 22nd of August 1917, probably due to ill health, and lived on his own means.

He was married to Lettice Anne (nee Elliot) at St Barnabas’s Church, Pimlico on the 3rd of February 1917; the service was officiated by the Bishop of Oxford; they had a son James Martin, who was born in London on the 11th of November 1917. The couple lived together at 2 Selwood Place, South Kensington until May 1924 when he moved in with Miss Chiquita Hicks at 404D Fulham Road.
His wife filed for divorce on the 23rd of December 1924, on the grounds of his adultery, and was granted a decree nisi on the 24th of April 1925 and a final decree on the 2nd of November 1925. He was remarried in late 1925 to Gladys Miriam (nee Hicks). They lived at Hill House, Wayland in Norfolk.
Went on to Eton College

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