Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Brocklehurst a hosiery manufacturer, born 1854 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and baptised on the 7th January 1855 in Leicester (son of George Marsden Brocklehurst, 1819-1894 and Sophia Heathcoat, 1817-1898) and his wife Ellen Brocklehurst (nee Wills, married in the July quarter of 1883 in Hinckley), born on the 6th December 1859 in Hinckley (daughter of Samuel Willis, 1819 and Ann Goadby, 1821). Bertrand, a schoolboy, was born in the April quarter of 1888 in Hinckley, his siblings were Percy Wills, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1884, Stanley, a schoolboy, born on the 4th December 1885 and Reginald, born on the 8th March 1890, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at 35, London Road, Hinckley. In March 1901 Bertrand was employed as a parcels clerk and was residing in the family home at 27, Moat Road, St. Stephen’s, Leicester, together with his father, a hosiery trade warehouseman, his mother and siblings, Percy, a hosiery trade apprentice, Stanley, a hosiery trade apprentice, Reginald, Dorothy Mabel, born on the 30th April 1892 and Constance Ellen, born on the 8th June 1894, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley. Thomas’ father died aged 55 years in August 1909 and was interred on the 5th August in Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester. In April 1911 Bertrand was employed as a clerk and was residing in the family home at 46, Glossop Street, Leicester, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Stanley, a warehouseman, Reginald, a hosiery trade counterman, Dorothy a drapery shop assistant and Constance a sewing tailoress.
Bertrand enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 27317. He gave his age as 27 years 10 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as clerk. He gave his present address as 46, Glossop Street, Leicester.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Glen Parva on the 8th April 1915 and recorded his birthplace as Hinckley, Leicestershire, declared age as 28 years 40 days, trade or occupation as railway agent, that he was 5-feet 9 inches in height, weighed 135 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches, his physical development was described as [not recorded], his vision was described as R.E.-V=6/24 L.E.-V=6/24. Enlisted at Leicester on the 10th December 1915. Joined on enlistment 12th battalion Leicestershire Regiment.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 27 years 10 months, height 5-feet 9 inches and chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. The following distinctive marks were noted, nil.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Ellen Brocklehurst, 46, Glossop Street, Leicester.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
[No record]
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 10/12/15 – 26/7/16. 230 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 27/7/16 – 27/4/17. 275 days.
Total Service. 1 year 140 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 27 Apr-17 - CROISILLES. Our artillery carried out wire cutting on the HINDENBURG front and support lines front from U.14.c.1.9 to U.1.c.4.0. For the purpose of patrolling the front was divided into three sectors as follows: - GREEN U.14.c.1.9 to U.7.d.2.0. ORANGE U.7.d.2.0 to U.7.b.0.0. BROWN U.7.b.0.0 to V.1.c.4.0. Patrols were sent out to inspect wire and report on same as follows: - “D” Company GREEN 12 midnight to 1.00am. “D” Company ORANGE 2.00am to 3.00am. “C” Company BROWN 1.00am to 2.00am. Wire was found to be much damaged but no lanes cut. Casualties 1 Other rank killed in action. 3 Other ranks wounded in action.
CWGC NOTES: St. Leger village was occupied by Commonwealth troops in the middle of March 1917, lost after obstinate defence by the 40th and 34th Divisions a year later, and recaptured towards the end of the following August, after severe fighting, by the 62nd (West Riding) and Guards Divisions. The cemetery was begun in March 1917 and used by fighting units and field ambulances until March 1918, when a certain number of burials were made by the Germans. The Cemetery contains 184 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. Three of the burials are unidentified and six destroyed by shell fire are represented by special memorials. The cemetery also contains 20 unidentified German burials.
The headstone inscription chosen by his mother reads. “Lost to sight, but to memory dear.”
On Thursday April 27th, 1922, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – BROCKLEHURST. – In ever-loving memory of Bertrand, the dearly beloved son of Mrs. Brocklehurst, 46, Glossop-street, killed in action April 27th, 1917. Till the day break.
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