Bryan Hill Townsley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Bryan Hill Townsley attended Worksop College between 1908 and 1910. His father was Richard Herbert Townsley, a gas engineer from Leeds, who had married Muriel (Minnie) Hill in 1888. Bryan had five siblings who had all been born in Leeds, Muriel Frances, Vera Mary, Herbert Allan (killed in action 14/10/1918 with the RAF), Bryan Hill, Kathleen Helen and Phyllis May. In 1901 the family were living in Headingley and in 1911 were still in Leeds at 25 Cardigan Road. Richard was the general manager of the gas department of Leeds Corporation. Bryan was serving his apprenticeship in an engineering works. Their father, Richard died on 15 Nov 1913 age 51 and the following year, Bryan emigrated to Canada going via Liverpool and Portland, Maine, leaving on the 5th March 1914.
Bryan had only been in Canada about five months when war had been declared. He made his way to Valcartier military training camp where he was attested on the 23 Sept 1914 for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force. He declared that his previous military experience had been serving in the Officer Training Corps, Worksop, Notts. He must have returned to the UK as in the 16 March 1916 edition of the London Gazette, he, along with many others, was to be temporary second lieutenants from 11 March 1915. Although attested in Canada he became an officer serving in the 12th Battalion Prince Wale’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, attached to the 9th Battalion. He was killed in France and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.
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