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.

John (Jack) Bright

Army, Commemorated name/s, Dardanelles, Other Regiments

John Bright
Private PO/658 (S)
Portsmouth Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry

Division 11

Bright John photo  CIMG2087

 

John Bright is commemorated on a small “Book” memorial, together with his father and mother.  The grave number is 9389 and the Berkshire Family History Society classification 11____.  He was the second son and his parents Samuel and Emily Bright lived at 60, Elgar Road.  He had two younger sisters. Private Bright enlisted in October 1914; prior to the war he had been employed by S. & E. Collier as a Burner, his father was a foreman at the brickworks.  He was educated at Katesgrove and Central Schools.  Known as Jack, he was well known in the local swimming world and won, two years in succession, the Palmer Challenge Cup, open to those who attending local elementary schools.  He was married at Christmas 1914.

Jack had been in the Dardanelles since February 1915 and had been shot in the arm on the 3rd May, but recovered quickly and went back into line. Various ages are given in the sources researched.  He was about 26 and due to have a birthday in November.   It was several weeks before he was officially confirmed as killed in action.  He was originally posted as missing on July 13th 1915.  Inquiries were made by his parents and wife which eventually yielded the information that he had been killed in action.  The exact circumstances of his death follow.

The Standard of 19th November 1915 published a letter from Lady Agnes Peel, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Naval Inquiry Bureau, Alexandria.  Writing to his wife Mrs. Bright nee Hart, of 42, Surrey Road, Reading the letter was as follows:

“I deeply regret to inform you that the following account was given to one of our visitors in hospital of the action of July 13th, in which your husband, John Bright, P.O./S. 658, Portsmouth Battalion, was reported missing: By Private Wain, of the same battalion.  Wain said that on 13th July he and Bright were lying down in the open preparatory to an advance.  Bright was the fourth man on Wain’s left.  Bright received a shrapnel wound in the back which killed him instantly.  The Portsmouth Battalion retired temporarily from the spot, but re-occupied it in a few hours.  Bright was buried by the pioneers.  As you will understand, this is not official information, and it may be some time before it is officially reported.  But there is, I am afraid, no reason to doubt the truth of Private Wain’s statement.  I thought it better to tell you of it.  Please accept sincere sympathy in your great trouble.”

The torturous Dardanelles campaign was a war of attrition that took place in phenomenal heat and was accompanied by plagues of flies.  The aim being to break the will of the defenders or throw the invaders off the peninsula.  Eventually, after the loss of over 100,000 men including those from Australian and New Zealand, the Gallipoli peninsular was successfully evacuated during December and the early days of January 1916.  The withdrawal was as silent as it was secretive, only a handful of men manned the trenches to maintain the appearance that all was as it had been. Success was measured by the fact that only two men were injured during the withdrawal.

Having no known grave, Private Bright is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 2-7.

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”!