Category Archives: Regiments

J. A. Birnie

Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

J. A. Birnie
Private TR8/30206
52nd Training Reserve

CIMG2132

 

Division 56
 J. A. Birnie Lies in a registered war grave with a CWGC war pattern headstone.  Grave number 5215.  He died on 25th November 1918, aged 18.

 There are no other details about Private Birnie.  However, just before Remembrance Day 1998 a Mrs Bernadette Smith contacted the author to enquire about whether a Private Birnie was buried in the cemetery.  It turned out that although Private Birnie was no relation to Mrs Smith she had in fact been named for him.  Mrs Smith was able to put a poppy on his grave.

 

Ernest A Brown and William Frederick Brown

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme, Ypres

Ernest A. Brown
Corporal 203874
2nd Battalion Oxford & Bucks. Light Infantry

William Frederick Brown
Private 201425
5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt.

 Division 15

 Brown EA and WF photo

 Ernest and William Brown are pictured with their brother in Berkshire and The War.  Gunner L. H. Brown, served with the Machine Gun Corps.,  he probably survived the war.  Ernest and Frederick are commemorated on the headstone of the grave of their grandfather.  They were the sons of William J. and Ellen Brown, 651, Oxford Rd. Reading. 

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 The Standard September 15th 1917 printed the notification of the death of Ernest Brown. He was killed  during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.

“In everlasting memory of my dear husband, Corporal. E. A. Brown, Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry killed in action August 16th 1917.”   

 Oh, how I longed to see him
After victory won,
But God thought it best to take him
Before the fight was won.
Sleep on dear Ern, in your lonely grave,
A grave I may never see,
But as long as life and memory last
I will remember thee.” 

Ernest Brown is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Location XI.F.13.

 Frederick’s wife Francis Violet Brown posted the notification of his death.  Her address was given as 31 Manchester Rd., Reading.   Frederick was killed in action, on the 5th April 1918.  His death occurred  during the Battle of Albert, he was aged 28.  At the time the British were being driven back by the Germans who had launched their major offensive in the spring. 

No loving friends stood round his bed,
No loving mother closed his eyes,
No roof above his brave young head,
Only France’s cloudy skies;
No bell to toll the mournful tale,
With sad but kindly tone,
But we know he’s gone to a better vale,
His Heavenly Father’s throne.

 William Brown has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial Panel 56 & 57.

 

Sidney Victor Broadbear

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Sidney Victor Broadbear
Private 43482
10th Batt. Lincolnshire Regiment

Division 6

Broadbear SV photo  CIMG2146CIMG2147

Sidney Victor Broadbear was the  son of Mr and Mrs Cornelius Broadbear of 51, Beresford Road, Reading. He is commemorated upon the headstone of the family grave, number 13598.   Sidney Broadbear died on 28th April 1917, aged 21, and is buried in Roeux British Cemetery Plot A. 27.

Roeux village was built over a system of caves which contributed to make its capture in 1917 exceptionally difficult.  The Battle of Arras began on the 9th April 1917.  Its 2nd phase of the began on April 23rd 1917 but, heavy  fighting around the area had taken place from 12th April.  On the 22nd April, the chemical works near the village was captured and the village itself was taken on 14th May after more very severe fighting.  The chemical works was lost in a German counter attack on the 16th May,  the date was significant as it  marked the official end of the Battle of Arras.  The factory was regained in August.  The graves in the cemetery were made by the fighting units involved in the actions from April to August.