Category Archives: Other Regiments

William Henry Achurch

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Berkshire Yeomanry, Other Regiments, Somme

William Henry Achurch
2nd Lieutenant 
2nd/5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 

 ACHURCH WH

William Henry Achurch was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Achurch, of 90 Cardigan Road, Reading.   He died of wounds received on the 6th December 1917, aged 25.  The Reading Chronicle of the 14th December 1917 carried an obituary.  The article states that he had been badly wounded in the chest.  The British launched a surprise attack at Cambrai on the 20th November 1917.  Ten days later the Germans attacked the salient and penetrated the British lines.  This was followed a few days later by a withdrawal from the area around Bourlon Wood and the eventually checking of the enemy.  The Battle of Cambrai officially ended on the 7th December 1917.  William Achurch is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France.  Location VI. D. 14.

Rocquigny and Equancourt are two villages in the Department of the Somme, some 13 kilometres north of Peronne and 12 kilometres south-east of Bapaume. Rocquigny and Equancourt are approximately 8 kilometres apart and the Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery lies about halfway between the two villages on the north side of the road just west of the crossing road from Etricourt to Ytres.  Etricourt was occupied by British troops at the beginning of April, 1917 during the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was lost on the 23rd March, 1918, and regained at the beginning of September. The cemetery was begun in 1917, and used (mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations, posted at Ytres) until March, 1918.

William Achurch joined the Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of war.  He was transferred to the Worcesters, promoted to the rank of Sergeant whilst on the Somme.  Later he was commissioned to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, returning to England to train in Oxford.  He had been back at the front for four months when he was killed. He had seen a great deal of fighting.

William Achurch was a member of Wycliffe Chapel, a Sunday School teacher and Scout Master.  Before the war he worked for Messrs. Sutton and Sons.

Serjeant R. John Brill

Army, Other Regiments, Reading Blue Coat School, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Sergeant. R. John Brill
3461 2nd/4th Royal Berkshire Regt.
transferred to (224543) 251st Div.,
Employment Coy., Labour Corps. 

Division 17 

 BRILL RJ  CIMG2189

 

 John Brill, was the son of Frederick William and Ruth Brill, 76, Sherman Road, Reading.   He died 9th June 1918 of wounds received on March 21st 1918, aged 25 years.   His parents may have referred to him as “Reg”.  A relation, Jan Brown,  who has contacted the site states that his name was actually Reginald Jessie Brill.

Sergeant Brill was wounded in action loosing his right leg, the other was also hit.   A native of Reading R J  Brill joined up when war started, prior to this he worked for Messers. Bradley and Bliss.  He saw over two years service in France.  Educated at St. Giles school and the Bluecoat School.  An active member of the A.O.F., being associated with  the Court of Sherwood Forest and was a member of the Spring Garden (Prize) Band.  He was buried with full military honours.

 The grave number is 17. 3555 and is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone and kerb stone surrounds. 

Sergeant Brill had two brothers.  They are not commemorated on his grave but information about them was obtained from the newspapers of the time.

BRILL AV

 L.Corpl., 15256, Albert Victor Brill had been employed by Phoenix insurance prior to the war.  He eventually reached the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant.  He  survived the war to later marry and have two sons.  He was wounded at least three times, once during the Battle of Loos. He died in 1949.

BRILL WALTER

 Pte. 12854, Walter Ernest Brill, the 3rd son, was a stretcher bearer in 6th Royal Berkshire Regt.  He was killed in Action  19th July 1916  Aged 23 years.  A  letter from an officer was published in the Reading Standard September 2nd 1916

 “I cannot tell you exactly where your son met his death.  He was engaged in carrying a wounded man to the rear when a shell struck the stretcher and your son was killed instantly.  I can vouch for this, as he was seen by a runner who was afterwards wounded, and I received the news from several men in the company that it occurred on July 19th in _____Wood.  No one in the magnificent battalion did better than he as a stretcher-bearer.  You have my sincerest regrets for the loss of your boy”.

The death of Frederick William Brill (father of the Brill boys) after a short illness – aged 54 years, was notified in the Reading Standard September 27th 1919. William Brill had worked in the Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory. In the 1911 census return, he described his occupation as “Biscuit factory shooting off biscuits”!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Aldridge

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Robert Aldridge
Private 87384
35th Company Millbank
Royal Army Medical Corps

Division 46

Aldridge pic  CIMG2204

Robert Aldridge is buried in a registered war grave with a CWGC war pattern headstone., number 5681. His tragic death, at the age of 38, at the hands of a patient was reported widely in the papers.

Mercury December 14 1918

“Private Aldridge was shot by Lieutenant Sidney Hume of the RAF and a patient at Latchmere House Military Hospital. Lieutenant Hume was repatriated in August and had been a patient since then. Hume was suffering from delusions. He alleged that he had been hypnotised by German doctors and that they had experimented upon him. He also said that hypnotism was going on at Latchmere. He had improved and his people were anxious for him to home. This was done several times with family taking and bringing him back. Three weeks ago the delusions became strongly marked  and he was placed under constant observation. The hospital was not aware that a revolver was in the institution. A verdict of ‘Wilful murder’ was returned. Private Aldridge was an orderly at Latchmere and formerly a porter at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.”

Aldridge article