What the heck is a lek?
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
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These two silver items were gifts to a man who overcame war adversity to lead a full working and social life; Herbert Morley Bird.
Inkwell:
TO H.M.BIRD
WITH BEST WISHES
FROM THE STAFF
AT DORCHESTER
NOVEMBER 1925
Cigarette case:
TO H.M.BIRD
FROM THE DORCHESTER DANCE CLUB
1925
Herbert Bird’s life began in an ordinary fashion. He was born in Yeovil in 1899. As he progressed through his teenage years in rural southwest England, political situations throughout Europe disintegrated and slid towards war. Herbert became a banker in Dorchester, accounting and providing customer service while the Great War spread across the world. In February 1917, when Russia’s last tsar faced imminent abdication from his throne and Germany attempted to put Britain under siege by cutting off its imports, Herbert, for his part, joined the 1st Battalion Dorset Volunteer Regiment. Its headquarters was in Dorchester’s Keep (which is now a military museum dedicated to the Dorsetshire and Devonshire Regiments). Just three months later, the eighteen-year-old received his conscription papers; he was enlisted as a private in the 5th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and headed into the war melee.
After a year of active service, probably in the French trenches, Herbert was captured and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in France. The war entered its dying days in October 1918; Herbert was freed and could return to Dorchester. He survived the war, but his left leg was amputated above the knee. Amputations were quite common among the war wounded because of the effects of shrapnel on the human body and the challenges in treating gangrene in field hospitals.
In the peacetime that followed, Herbert did not want his injury to hold him back, and he was able to resume his banking job in 1919. It appears that he also made the most of his evenings, attending the Dorchester Dance Club. When Herbert’s bank moved him to their Bristol branch in 1925, colleagues and friends from both the Dorchester bank and dance club, who were clearly going to miss him, gave him these tokens of their affection.
The inkwell gives us an idea of his administrative banking work; the cigarette case perhaps tells us about the relaxation habits of young soldiers and ex-soldiers; the choice of silver gifts with specially engraved sentiments indicates the value of this man to his colleagues and friends; that they remain in such good condition shows how greatly Herbert treasured his gifts.
These objects were highlighted by People First, a local community group that empowers and supports people with learning disabilities. The group visits the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery regularly. They said:
“The items we chose were an inkwell and cigarette case, which belonged to Herbert Morley Bird. The items were nearly 100 years old, but still looked like new!
Mr Brid’s’ story was very inspiring. He was a soldier in World War I. He returned home from war after losing a leg while serving in the army. Despite having a very traumatic experience and acquiring a significant disability, Mr Bird returned home and went back to his normal activities. He went back to work and was an active member of wider community activities.
This resonated with us because he had to overcome a lot of barriers to be able to live the life he did after his war injury. We, as people with learning disabilities, also have to overcome many barriers, to live independently and be included in community life.
We admire Mr Bird’s determination greatly and think his story can provide inspiration for lots of people who are living with disabilities today.”
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!