Harry Brailsford
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry Brailsford was born in Cropwell Bishop in 1888 (J/A/S Bingham mother's maiden name Booth), birth registered Charles Buxton Mosley. His mother Ellen Brailsford (formerly Buxton née Booth) was born in Sheffield on 30 November 1860. His father was Ellen's second husband, Thomas Brailsford (b. Derby 11 September 1857). See 'Extra information.' Ellen Booth married first John Buxton at Cropwell Bishop St Giles on 26 February 1883. Her husband was born in Cropwell Bishop, and was probably the son of Robert and Ann Buxton, and was baptised at St Giles on 23 January 1859. Their eldest child, Edith Buxton, was baptised in 1883 at St Giles, parents John and Ellen Buxton. However, the baptismal records of Ellen's next two children, Lily bap. St Giles 1885 and William Charles bap. St Giles 1886, gave only her name as parent. Harry was born on 30 May 1888. Ellen married Thomas Brailsford in 1905 (Thomas Brailsford/Ellen Buxton 1905 O/N/D Basford). However, Thomas completed the 1911 Census with the information that he and Ellen had been married for 18 years (abt. 1893) and had had 13 children of whom only eight had survived. The names of nine children have been traced, including one, Walter, who died young, so it seems that the number of surviving children included Edith, Ellen's eldest child by her first husband John Buxton. Thomas Brailsford has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census. However, Ellen Buxton (26, married) was recorded on the census living in Cropwell Bishop as housekeeper to a widower, John Mallett (60), an agricultural labourer. Her four children (surname Buxton), Edith (7), Lilian (5), William (4) and Harry (2), were described as lodgers A further child, George (Buxton), who appears on the subsequent census, was probably George Harold Buxton whose birth was registered in 1893 (A/M/J Basford, mother's maiden name Booth). In 1901 Thomas, a plaster boiler (gypsum works), and Ellen [Brailsford] were living at Malt Houses, Malt Street, Gotham. Also in the household were: Edith (19) and Lily (17), who were both domestic servants, William (15) a farm servant, Harry (12) and George (8) who were all born in Cropwell Bishop and had the surname Buxton although described as Thomas' children. There were then three children with the surname Brailsford who had been born in Gotham: Charlotte b. 1896, Walter b. 1896 (registered Brailsford) and 'baby' (under one year) who was probably later named Mary Ellen. Walter died in 1903 aged about five. There was another son, Albert, who was born in Cropwell Bishop in about 1903. In 1906 when Harry attested in the Militia/Reserve Division (4th Bn Sherwood Foresters) he named his next of kin as his parents Thomas and Ellen (Brailsford) of Cropwell Bishop, brothers William of Tithby Grange and George of Cropwell Bishop, and sisters Edith of Loughborough (address not known) and Lily of the Greyhound Inn, London Road, Nottingham. Thomas and Ellen had left Gotham and returned to live in Cropwell Bishop by 1903 when Albert was born, and were still living there when Harry enlisted in 1906, but by 1911 they were again in Gotham and living at The Rushes. Only Charlotte (15), Mary Ellen (10) and Albert (8) were still living at home. George (Brailsford) was recorded in Owthorpe, near Colston Bassett, working as an under-wagoner for Josiah Wallwin, a farmer. The CWGC record only names Ellen Brailsford as Harry's parent; her address was given as Malt Street, Gotham. By 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Thomas and Ellen were living on Curzon Street, Gotham. Thomas died in 1941. Ellen has not yet been traced after 1939.
Harry Brailsford enlisted on 9th August 1906 and served in India with 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters until 1913 when he left the army and joined the postal service. On the outbreak of the war he rejoined his regiment. Harry died in hospital on 20 September 1914 of wounds received in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. ‘The 2nd Foresters had served in India 1882-1898,’ writes John Cotterill, ‘returning home in 1902 via garrison duty in Aden and Malta. They led a peripatetic life in the UK serving on the Isle of Wight, in Aldershot, in various small garrisons in Ireland, in Plymouth and railway strike breaking in Derby in 1911 before arriving at Hillsborough Barracks in Sheffield in 1912. Here they mobilised 4/8/14 as part of 18 Brigade in 6 Division. As with most home based units they were under strength in peacetime so were composed of 40% reservists on mobilisation. Initially only four divisions were sent over the channel with 4th and 6th Divisions held back on coastal defence duties. As the threat of an early German invasion receded these two remaining divisions were deployed with 2nd Foresters, 930 men strong, arrived in St Nazaire on 11 Sept 1914. By this time the retreat from Mons was over and, indeed, on 12 Sept 1914 the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) began its advance from the River Marne to battle on the River Aisne.’ 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (71st Bde, 6th Division) mobilised 4/8/1914 and disembarked at St Nazaire on September 11th. Hough was killed during the battalion’s first Great War action in the Aisne valley which the BEF needed to cross before attempting to take the strategically commanding Chemin des Dames high ground. On September 20th, they were in reserve north of Troyon. As other British units fell back, according to John Cotterill, ‘a request for help reached the 2nd Foresters... at 1400.’ first by A and C Coys led by Captains Parkinson and Popham, reinforced by ‘B’ and ‘D’’ Coys with most of the Westphalians fleeing before the Foresters’ bayonets.’ The unit war diary (TNA WO95/1616/3/1) records the dramatic action: ‘the enemy were seen to have taken trenches on the right of the British line on the ridge at the head of the Troyon Valley – the most vital point in the line of defence. The battalion moved out to re-take the trenches. A German column was seen to be marching off prisoners...The advance was met by a very heavy machine gun fire from the front and left flank which caused many casualties, the ground being devoid of cover and very cramped... a general advance was made with great dash and in spite of heavy losses the trenches were re-taken. The battalion then prepared to hold the trenches... This was a most important action as the safety of the British right and the bridge over the R. Aisne at Bourg depended on the maintenance of the trenches. All ranks behaved splendidly.’ The war diary estimated 180 2nd Bn casualties in the action of 20th September 1914. 49 men from the unit, including 24 commemorated on this website, were killed that day (CWGC Debt of Honour Register). 38 of these dead have no known grave and are commemorated on the Le Ferte-sous-Jouarre memorial to the missing and the remaining 11 are divided between cemeteries at Chauny, Sissone and Vendresse. Military Research by David Nunn and John Cotterill
CWGC: 'The La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial commemorates 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves.' Harry Brailsford is also commemorated on the Leicester Post Office WW1 memorial, Bishop Street, Leicester (H Brailsford). British Civil Service - Evidence of Age. Document headed 'MOSLEY Charles Buxton (aka Brailsford Harry) date of birth 30 May 1888'. Declaration: 'I do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am the father of Harry Brailsford now a candidate for appointment as postman at Leicester and that the said Harry Brailsford is the person referred to as Charles Buxton Mosley in the accompanying Certificate of Birth marked ‘A’. Signed Thomas Brailsford. Witness Fr A Wodehouse clerk in Holy Orders. 11 May 19(-)' Nottingham Evening Post 13th April 1915: “KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE. “Gotham Sherwood Forester who had served in India. “Corporal Harry Brailsford, whose photograph we reproduce, served seven years with the Sherwood Foresters in India. He then entered the Postal Service, but on the outbreak of war he rejoined his old regiment. He was wounded in one of the battles in which the Sherwoods were engaged, and died in Hospital. “Corporal Brailsford was a native of Gotham, which thus adds another name to its long roll of honour.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. WW1 Pension Ledgers: Parents Thomas James and Ellen Brailsford. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Harry had made a will in favour of his mother, Ellen.
