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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte Joseph Briggs
British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:High Moorsley Co Durham
(d.9th April 1917)
Fireman Thomas William Briggs
Mercantile Marine SS Gafsa
from:South Shields
(d.28th Mar 1917)
Thomas William Briggs Fireman, Mercantile Marine. S.S. Gafsa (London) Son of Thomas and Mary Jane Briggs (nee Crawford) of 187 Adelaide Street South Shields. Born in Jarrow, on the 1911 census, Thomas William Briggs is listed, age 16 as a Riveter Catcher in Shipyard living with his father Thomas and family at 187 Adelaide Street, South Shields on the 1911 census He was lost at sea aged 22 on 28th March 1917 on the SS Gafsa. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Pte. William Briggs
British Army 9th (West Belfast) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
from:Elizabeth Street, Belfast
William Briggs, was the brother of my Grandfather John (Stoker RN,) both resided at 13 Elizabeth Street, Grosvenor Road, Belfast.
William joined the 9th Royal Irish Rifles on the 21st of October 1914 at the age of 21.5 yrs. He remained at home training at various locations both in Ireland and England until the 1st of October 1915 before deploying to France. His war time service was up until the 7th of March 1916 when he was returned home to convalesce at the Bangour War Hospital, Edinburgh after losing his index finger and thumb on his right hand as a result of a detonator. He returned to Ireland on light duties until his honorable discharge as unfit for war service on the 25th of July 1916.
He later married and lived off the Donegal Road, Belfast, but both a son and wife died early. William lived until 1968 passing at the age of 75yrs.
Pte. Thomas Brigham
British Army 1/10th Btn. Manchester Regiment
(d.4th Jun 1918)
Thomas Brigham was executed for desertion 04/06/1918 age 22 and buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France.
Sgt. Frank Bright
British Army 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
from:Chard, Somerset
Frank Bright was born at Colyton, East Devon in 1896, son of Thomas and Emma. Frank was from a large family, around ten children, and in early 1900s moved to Knowle St Giles near Chard, Somerset where his father worked on a farm as cowman. Upon leaving school Frank followed his father onto the land but it wasn't long before he wanted something different. He was still a lad when he joined the West Somerset Yeomanry in 1912. At outbreak of war in 1914 Frank was transferred to the newly formed 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.
After much training in various parts of England Frank's battalion completed their training on Salisbury Plain, where in June 1915 they were inspected by the King, and in July embarked for France.
While in France Frank was promoted to sergeant. His battalion the 7th Somersets attached to 20th Light Division landed at Boulogne and by the end of July 1915 were billeted between Hazebrouck and Armentieres near the French - Belgium border. In August Frank and the 7th Somersets went into the front line trenches near Armentieres to find the opposing lines only yards apart. They were surprised and probably felt quite indignant when they heard a shout from the German trench, "Hullo. You Somerset Cukoos."
By September they were experiencing warfare above and below ground as friend and foe carried out mining and counter mining in attempts to blow up each others forward positions. In one mining explosion beneath their lines 12 men of the 7th Somersets were buried and dug out alive. Weeks later in September 1915 the division took part in the battle of Loos, suffering 561 casualties.
Frank's first Christmas Eve in France was rudely interrupted when the village of Fleurbaix, where his battalion were billeted came under fire from German artillery. As shells rained down on the village they were forced to run out into the fields to escape the bombardment.
In early 1916 Frank was in the trenches near Ypres in Belgium and a few months later the division was involved in the second campaigns of the Somme, including the battle of Le Transloy on 1st October.
Frank's division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in July 1917, and in August the battle of Langemarck. Their fighting during the Ypres campaigns had cost his battalion (7th Somerset Lt Infantry) 5 officers killed and 14 wounded, plus other ranks 102 killed and 335 wounded.
Weeks later Frank and the 7th Somersets were back on the Somme and by mid October 1917 were at Villers-Guislain, a village on the front line with 1000 yards of No Mans land between them and the enemy. Each night they put out patrols and all returned safely with not a shot fired. So quiet was it here that some in the battalion hoped higher command would forget them until the war ends.
It was around this time when Frank was granted leave and returned home to England to get married. It was the latter quarter of 1917 when he married Kate Spiller in the district of Taunton. Frank was aged 22 this year and Kate was 20 (born 24 June 1898)
A few days later Frank returned to the Western front. No longer in a quiet sector. In March 1918 his battalion was involved in hard fighting during the great German Spring Offensive. Frank and the 7th Somersets not only held them off but managed to break through their lines.
That summer they were holding a front in the Lens sector. In the first week of October 1918 during some stiff fighting they captured the village of Fresnoy and advanced their positions by 400 yards. It was a slow and painful process but the enemy was now in retreat. Frank's Division were relieved by 12th Division on 8th October and marched back 16 miles to Averdoingt for rest. They stayed here until 30th October when the division was ordered up to Cambrai .
However, in the area of Averdoingt on 24th of October 1918 Frank Bright was wounded by a shell, with shell fragments hitting his left thigh and hand. He was admitted to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station. And from there was moved closer to the coast to No. 9 General Hospital on 27th October, and the next day was transferred back to England.
Frank was admitted to hospital in England on 29th October 1918 where he spent the next three months (93 days) recovering from his wounds. The Armistice came while Frank was still in hospital. He was discharged from hospital on 29th January 1919. He was demobilised from the army on 27th February 1919.
After the war Frank and Kate settled in Stoke St Mary near Taunton and started to raise their family. They lived at Oakfield Farm where Frank became a dairy and poultry farmer. Frank died aged 87 in 1984. Kate died in 1992.
Pte. James Bright
British Army 18th (4th Glasgow) Battalion Highland Light Infantry
(d.14th March 1916)
James Bright served with the 18th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. He was born in Dublin and enlisted in Glasgow. James was killed in action on the 14th March 1916.
Pte. Sydney George Bright
British Army 1st Btn Bedfordshire Regiment
(d.18th Apr 1915)
Sydney Bright is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres.
Pte. T. Bright
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Byker
Sgt. Herbert James Brightman
British Army 6th Btn. Northamptonshire Regiment
(d.6th October 1918)
Sergeant Herbert James Brightman, born in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, enlisted Northampton. Served with the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (service no. 13927),
He died of his wounds on 6th October 1918 in France and Flanders and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine Maritime France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill.
Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
Pte. Sydney Brightmore
British Army 6th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:Portsmouth
(d.30th Apr 1917)
Sydney Brightmore served with the 6th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 30th April 1917. He is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq. Sydney was the son of Mrs. A. E. Brightmore, of 14, Buckingham Place, Lake Rd., Portsmouth. (Formerly of Burnley, Lancashire).
Pte. Sydney Brightmore
British Army 6th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:Portsmouth
(d.30th Apr 1917)
Sydney Brightmore died on the 30th of April 1917 and is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial in Iraq. He was the son of Mrs. A. E. Brightmore, of 14 Buckingham Place, Lake Rd., Portsmouth. (Formerly of Burnley, Lancashire).
Pte. Austin Benjamin John Brighton
British Army 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment
from:Peel St, Bedford, Bedfordshire
The following is from my uncle (Tony Burgoyne):
Austin Benjamin John Brighton (son of George Brighton and Elizabeth Lucy Brighton) was born 5 September 1897 in The Tuns Inn, Broome, Norfolk, and died 4 August 1975 in Bedford. He married Alice Clarke on 5 October 1921 in Pertenhall Parish Church, daughter of James Clarke and Elizabeth Ann Fisher.
Includes notes for Austin Benjamin John Brighton:
Grandad Brighton fought at Gallipoli and in France during WW1. He was in the Suffolk Yeomanry, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He sailed for France on May 7th 1916 and his forwarding address was: Royal Suffolk Hussars, 15th Div IBD, 17th sect APO British Expeditionary Forces.
Dorothy can remember Grandad telling her once that a cousin of his was killed beside him - A corporal, James Samuel Brighton, of the 2nd Batallion Suffolk Regiment - service no 17101 was killed on 27 Sept 1918 aged 23 son of Robert and Annie Brighton of Bungay. He is buried at Grevilliers British Cemetery, Pas de Calais. A private Harry Brighton was killed on 1 July 1916 (an HP Brighton is on Bungay's memorial cross but he was from the 11th Batallion - he was killed near Thiepval on the Somme...a Harry P Brighton is recorded as a 17 yo bricklayer bn Bungay in the 1901 census).
Earlier, he sailed for the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) on the Olympia on 25 Sep 1915. He landed a the Dardanelles on 10 Oct 1915. He sailed from Alexandria, Egypt on HMHS Lanfranc on 29 Dec 1915 and landed back in England on 10 Jan 1916 ie some 4 months before he left for France.
He was born at the Tuns Inn, 5 Pirnough St, Broome...a continuation of Wainford Rd (very close to the village of Broome). It was the only building in the street in 1742 and in 1869 an Ebenezer was landlord. The building still stands and a Mrs Collier (92 yo) lives in the house as of Nov 2001. It is now recorded on video.
Why did grandad go to Bedford? Lewis Brighton reveals that he was told about a job by Jane Felles (nee Brighton) as a gardener. He applied for and got the job and then met Nanna (Alice Clarke) who was a maid servant at the same house.
Betty Warnes can remember visiting Nanna and grandad in Bedford when she and her father drove the truck full of sugar beets to market nearby.
Pte. George Brighton
British Army 25th Battalion Machine Gun Corps
from:Bromsgrove, Wocestershire
(d.3rd Nov 1918)
My Great Grandfather George Brighton joined the Machine Gun Corps in July 1918. He was sent for training in machine gunnery before being sent overseas. He would not have reached France until early October 1918, He was serving with the 25th Battalion - the machine gun element of the 25th Division. On the day of his death, the battalion was preparing for a major set-piece battle - the crossing of the river Sambre, being one of the final actions of the war. He died of his wounds, and was buried at Pommereuil. Another man in his unit, S A Bowden, No 171853 was killed on the same day and is buried a very short distance away at Landrecies. My guess is that they were both victims of shelling. My great grandfather probably made it back as far as Pommereuil where there was a Casualty Clearing Station, but died before he could be moved to a hospital. George died on the 3rd November 1918 aged 26yrs; He left a wife and two young daughters.
Pte. Sidney Brignull
British Army 1st Btn. Essex Regiment
from:Canvey Island, Essex
(d.14th April 1917)
Rfn. Joseph Briley
British Army 7th (Service) Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
from:102 Upland Rd, Birmingham
(d.9th Sept 1914)
Rfn Joseph Briley is the first casualty suffered by the 7th Battalion, KRRC during WW1.He was 30 years old when he re-enlisted in the KRRC on 29th Aug 1914 having previously served as 3328 Rfn Briley for a short period from 1900 at age 19 during the Boer War.His trade is listed as a Brass Moulder on his enlistment documentation and the 1911 census shows he was working manufacturing taps. Joseph, the son of Harry married Ellen Briley nee Hill on the 11th Sept 1909 in Birmingham. They had a daughter Ellen a year later.
Joseph is listed as posted from the Depot in Winchester on 5th Sept 1914 to 7th Btn KRRC. Tragically he is also listed as attempting suicide for an unknown reason on the 6th Sept 1914. Rfmn Joseph Briley died on the 9th Sept 1914 at Chatham Hospital. He is buried in Fort Pitt Military Cemetery, Kent.
Rflmn. Walter Arthur Brill
British Army 12th (The Rangers) Btn. London Regiment
(d.22nd Sep 1916)
Lt. John Brillant VC. MC
Canadian Expeditionary Forces 22nd Btn. Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
from:Rimouski, P.Q., Canada
(d.10th August 1918)
John Brillant was the son of Joseph Brillant, of Rimouski, P.Q., Canada
An extract from The London Gazette No. 30922, dated 27th Sept., 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty when in charge of a company which he led in attack during two days with absolute fearlessness and extraordinary ability and initiative, the extent of the advance being twelve miles. On the first day of operations shortly after the attack had begun, his company's left flank was held up by an enemy machine gun. Lt. Brillant rushed and captured the machine-gun, personally killing two of the enemy crew. Whilst doing this, he was wounded but refused to leave his command. Later on the same day, his company was held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He reconnoitred the ground personally, organised a party of two platoons and rushed straight for the machine-gun nest. Here 150 enemy and fifteen machine-guns were captured. Lt. Brillant personally killing five of the enemy, and being wounded a second time. He had this wound dressed immediately, and again refused to leave his company. Subsequently this gallant officer detected a field gun firing on his men over open sights. He immediately organised and led a "rushing" party towards the gun. After progressing about 600 yards, he was again seriously wounded. In spite of this third wound, he continued to advance for some 200 yards more, when he fell unconscious from exhaustion and loss of blood. Lt. Brillants wonderful example throughout the day inspired his men with an enthusiasm and dash which largely contributed towards the success of the operations."
Edgar Lewis Brimacombe
Canadian Expeditionary Force 44th Battalion
from:Hargrave, Manitoba, Canada
My great uncle, Edgar Brimacombe, was born on 26th January 1895 in Exeter, Ontario, Canada and migrated with his family to a farm just north east of a small hamlet, Hargrave, Manitoba in the early 1900s. He enlisted with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons at the time of WW1. He was part of the 181st Battalion formed in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada and was shipped over to England in early 1917. He was transferred to the 18th Reserve Battalion for training in England, and then transferred to the 44th Battalion CEF Company A.
He was shipped to the front and was injured with shrapnel in his left at the disastrous and fateful attack on the Green Crassier at Lens in France in August 1917. Edgar was shipped back to England to recover.
Once Edgar recovered from his injuries, he was shipped back to France with the 44th Battalion, A Company. He was shot through the face during the attack near Amiens in August of 1918. Edgar was sent back to England for recovery from injuries and finally sent back to Canada in 1919.
Pte. Leslie Brimacombe
Canadian Expeditionary Force 42nd Btn.
from:Belleville, On, Canada
My Great Grandfather, Leslie Brimacombe, served in France from 1915 to 1918. On the 5th of February 1918, in Lievin, France he was buried by a shell. His right foot was injured and developed gangrene. On 8th of June 1918, his right foot was amputated at the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff.
Cpl. Thomas James Brimble
British Army 11th Btn. Sherwood Foresters
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Pte. Percival George Brimblecombe
British Army 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
from:Lustleigh
(d.31st May 1918)
G. H. Brincklow
British Army Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Private G H Brincklow served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He died in 1920 and was buried in Birmingham Plot 10.
Pte. Edmund Brindle
British Army 23rd (1st Sportsmans) Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Isle of Man
Eddie Brindle was my grandfather, born 17th April 1891 and died 1961. He was brought up in the Isle of Man and returned there after the war, spending some time with relatives in Dublin immediately after the war. I remember relatives saying he didn't want to speak about his war experiences, but used to have terrible nightmares for a full 2 years after the war crying out in his sleep. I just about remember him as a gentle giant, he died when I was 4 years old. I wish I knew more.
My mother was born in 1930 and she desperately tried to get him to talk about his experiences. My Mum was a literature student winning many prizes for her poetry and won a scholarship based on a project she did on World War 1 poets. She told me in more recent years - she only followed this line of study in the hopes of finding out about her father's experiences, but he never opened up.
Pte. Frank Brindle
British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Whittle-le-Woods, Lancashire
(d.25th April 1918)
My great uncle Frank Brindle was the youngest son of my grandma's family. He was 18 years and 1 month old when he enlisted at Chorley on 15th September 1917, he was posted to the Army Reserve until the 16th September 1917 He was then mobilised and was posted on 19th October 1917 to the 6th (Res) Lancashire Fusiliers - there are two numbers S/170266 and 45794 - then he was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry from 53rd (YS) at Scarborough on 9th January 1918, service number 81384. He was killed in action in Flanders on 25th April 1918. Frank is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial and is remembered with honour.
Pte. Fred Brindle
British Army 6th Btn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
from:Nelson, Lancs.
(d.9th April 1916)
Fred Brindle died on the 9th of April 1916, aged 23 and is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial in Iraq. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Brindle, of 83 Fir St., Nelson, Lancs.
Spr. J. G. Brindley
Australian Imperial Forces 1st Australian Tunnelling Coy.
Pte. Martin Brindley
British Army 3rd Btn. Royal Irish Regiment
from:Dublin
(d.14th February 1916)
Private Brindley was the husband of M. Brindley, of 165, James St., Dublin.
He is buried In the South-East part of the ruins in the Lisbunny Cemetery, Lisbunny, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Pte. Thomas Brindley
British Army. 7th Btn. London Regiment
Thomas Brindley was my late Father. He was taken prisoner of War on 28th August 1918 and the forms that I have in my possession say that at the time he was serving with the 7th London Regiment(Middlesex). It would appear that he enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment on 2nd March 1916 and was called up on the 4th April 1918.
I am trying to establish (if possible)where he was captured as I would like to visit the site. I recall when I was younger that he refered to the Shiny Seventh Londoners and that when he was captured he was one of only twenty eight men who survived. He was discharged in May 1918 and then re-enlisted with the Lincolnshire Regiment.
Pte Frederick Brinkley MM
British Army 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:King's Lynn
(d.30th October 1917)
Pte. Robert Franklin Plato Brinkley
British Army 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Hull
(d.24th July 1917)
Robert Brinkley joined the 2nd Btn West Yorkshire Regiment aged just 15. He lied about his age as many did. He was killed on the 24th July 1917 age 18. The youngest son of Alice and the late Plato Brinkley.
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