I am seeking any information on my great great uncle John BIRCH, a private in the 12th Regiment, who deserted at Ballarat on 12th January 1855. He had arrived there in the company that was force marched from Melbourne on October 21, 1854, 3 days after disembarking from Cork, Ireland. I don't know whether he was amongst the 65 or so members of the 12th Regiment involved in attacking the Eureka Stockade.

John BIRCH died in the Benevolent Asylum in Bendigo in July 1900 aged 67 and was buried in a pauper's grave in the White Hills cemetery. He was unmarried and I have no knowledge of his life at all between his desertion and death.

John BIRCH might have gone under the name John HILL (Hill being his middle name) after he deserted to cover his tracks for a while.

John BIRCH had a twin brother, James BIRCH, who also enlisted in the 12th with John in Belfast in April 1854. The brothers were born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, in July 1833. James married in December 1852 and brought his wife and young son out with the regiment on the same ship (The Camperdown) as John. James stayed with the regiment until the end of 1861, before taking up teaching. James has left a trail of correspondence due to his battles with alcohol and the establishment, but of John there is nothing until his death notice. It's not even known for certain whether the brothers ever met up again.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bill Birch : Email - bbirch@museum.vic.gov.au