Category Archives: Army

Arthur Robert (Bob) Brinkworth

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Somme, St. Laurence's Church

Arthur Robert Brinkworth
Second Lieutenant
14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

 Division 32

Brinkworth AR photo Brinkworth AR grave

Arthur Robert Brinkworth  known as Bob, was the youngest son of Mr Harry Brinkworth. Harry had the job of bringing up his four children. His wife was already dead by 1901. The 1911 census has the family living at 131. Friar Street, Reading.  Bob’s age is given as 22 and his profession as a stockbrokers clerk. Harry Brinkworth ran his own business, first as a potato merchant and in 1911 is listed as fruiterer. He was assisted in the business by his oldest daughter Ellen Annie, aged 24.  Bob is commemorated on the footstone of the family grave which unusually bears a cap and sword as part of the memorial.  

Brinkworth Rcem com

He died of wounds on 7th September 1916 aged 27.  An obituary was published in the Reading Standard 23rd September 1916 from which the following details are taken.

 Lieutenant Brinkworth had been educated at Christ’s Hospital, was a member of Reading Philanthropic Institution, Druids, and the Bohemian Club.  He was a fine swimmer, tennis player and all round athlete.  He had joined the O.T.C. in May 1915, was gazetted on July 1st and left for the front on May 20th.  (No years given)  He was greatly loved by all who knew him.

“Captain Neal wrote:- The battalion attacked and your son was with his platoon.  He was badly wounded in the leg and died soon after he was taken down.  I hope it will be a little comfort to you …when I tell you that after he was wounded he behaved in the most gallant manner possible – in fact I have never seen a braver wounded man.  I had no hope when I saw the nature of his injury but he stuck to it splendidly…”

His Commanding officer wrote he was as “brave as a lion” and “I have had a cross made, and tomorrow I intend to ride over to the grave and have it erected and the ground put in order – the last tribute I can pay to one whose loss I mourn not only as a brother officer, but as a friend.”

 In addition to these tributes his father received a telegram from the King and Queen.  

 Bob Brinkworth is buried in the Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt.  Location III.H.I.  The cemetery was begun by fighting units and used by Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme, 1916.

 

Harry George Brewer

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College

Harry George Brewer
Lance Sergeant C/6276
18th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps

 Division 24

CIMG2169CIMG2168

 

Harry George Brewer was the son of Frank and Emma Brewer, of 653, Oxford Road, Reading. A grave to the family of Barton and Andrews also bears the initials “E.B. and F.B. and Cpl. H.G.B. son killed in action September 16th 1916, aged 27”  is commemorated on a small scroll.  Burial records revealed the name Brewer.  The 1911 census records indicate the Harry Brewer was a journeyman carpenter. His father was a plumber and other sons also had trades.

 CWGC information revealed that Harry George Brewer was killed on the 15th September 1916. He is listed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.  Pier and Face 13A and 13B.

 The 15th September was the beginning of the 3rd phase of the Somme offensive.   On this day an advance along six miles of front to a depth of 2000 -3000 yards took place.   The attack was special because it was the first time that the heavy armoured cars or tanks were used.  Although several tanks ditched along the way those that fought near Flers were very successful and assisted in the taking of the village.  During the next four days, all along the front, the fighting was bloody and many men lost their lives. Exactly where the  18th Battalion KRRC were positioned is not yet known. It is not clear upon which day Harry Brewer died but he had no known grave.  The allied attack was hindered on the 19th September by bad weather but,  resumed the day after and continued well into November.  During this time many thousands lost their lives.

Edward Brady

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Edward Brady
Driver T3/029866 190th Company
Army Service Corps.

 Division 15

CIMG2163

 

Edward Brady was stationed at Pangbourne.  He died on 7th  February 1915.  The local papers carried accounts of Edward Brady’s death. The Chronicle Feb. 12th 1915 titled their account 

 “Deserter’s dash for liberty”

Edward Brady 35 and was married to Ellen Brady and lived at 69, Cirencester Street, Harrow.  Before the war he had been a coal porter, he enlisted on 23rd November 1914.  His problems started at Christmas when he overstayed his leave.  His wife said she had not received her separation allowance and her husband  stayed to work in order to pay the rent.  She had received her allowance a week before he went back.  On the Friday evening he broke away from camp and was arrested the following morning in London.  He was being brought back to Pangbourne on a 3 o’clock Paddington train, he asked to go to the lavatory and was out of site for a short while.  During this time he jumped from the train which was stated to have been travelling at about 50 mph.  His  body was picked up near Ruscombe signal box.  Brady was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital but died next morning of his injuries. 

 Brady was posted as a deserter after his extended leave but this was later altered to a complaint of extended leave.  On his return he was put in cells for 7 days awaiting a court martial.   At the end of that time he was let out and given to understand he would have his discharge.  He absconded and when arrested was handcuffed but these were removed at the request of Mrs Brady and because it would be a disgrace to the regiment.  At the Police station he was told that he was liable to be shot for being a deserter.  Brady asked accompanying officer Sergeant. Alfred James Stableton if this was true the sergeant replied that such an extreme penalty would not be used in his case.  On the train Brady was “very jovial and absolutely sober”.  He died from shock following a fractured skull and arm and other injuries consistent with a fall from a train.  The post-mortuum also showed old pleurisy and fatty degeneration of the heart and liver.  In the course of summing up the Coroner said it was impossible to say whether the deceased left the train with the intent to take his own life or to escape.  The jury returned a verdict of death whilst trying to escape and expressed sympathy for the widow.

 A CWGC headstone marks Grave 16050, a small memorial from his wife is also on the grave.