William Arthur Brackner
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Arthur Bracknall was born in 1894 he was the son of William a farmer and Mary Brackner née Wragg of Whyburn Farm Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire. William was born in 1854 Mary Wragg was also born in 1854 they were both born at Hucknall, they were married in 1874 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district, they went on to have 5 children sadly two died in infancy or early childhood. their other surviving children were George Thomas b1875 and Beatrice Sarah b1890. In 1911 the family are living at Whyburn Farm, Hucknall William is 57 yrs and a farmer, he is living with his wife Mary 57 yrs and their son William rthur 16 yrs a farmers son working on his farm.
Private William Arthur Brackner, enlisted at Woolwich he served with the 17th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, formerly of the Army Veterinary Corps, he died of wounds on 15th June 1918. He is buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension,
Article published in the Hucknall Dispatch 3rd October 1918 :- “The first photograph we give this week is of Pte. William Arthur Brackner, of Whyburn Farm, Hucknall, who has made the great sacrifice, much to the regret of his parents, his fiancée (Miss Metcalf), and a very wide circle of friends. It was in August 1916, when he joined the colours, being placed in the Army Veterinary Corps, and trained at Woolwich. A month later he set foot on French soil, and in October, 1917, he was transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers, and had to take his place in the front rank without the training which had been given to the men of the regiment. However, he maintained his position and on March, 16, 1918, he had a trip to Hucknall for his first furlough, returning to the scene of hostilities on Good Friday, March 29. For three months on his return he had to take part in the resistance to the German forces when they were making their thrusts for Calais and Paris. Unfortunately, it was the lot of Pte. Brackner to fall victim to wounds on June 15, and later the same day it appears that he passed away in a Canadian Hospital, being buried with full military honours in Gezaincourt, south of Doullen. Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
