John William Brindley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John William was the son of John William Brindley and his wife Phoebe (née Keeling). John William snr. was born in Southwell in 1864 (J/A/S Southwell) the son of William and Elizabeth Brindley (nee Spick). The family was living on West Gate, Southwell in 1871 but had moved to 8 Quarry Lane, Mansfield, by 1881; both John William and his father were joiners. Phoebe Keeling was born in East Kirkby, probably in 1854 (O/N/D Basford). They were married on 28 November 1891 at Mansfield SS Peter and Paul (O/N/D Mansfield). According to the 1911 Census, they had had five chlldren of whom only three were still living: John William b. 1893 (A/M/J Basford, Robert b. 1895 (O/N/D Basford) and Frederick Russell b. 1898 (O/N/D Basford); the children were born in Kirkby in Ashfield. It is likely that one of the children who did not survive infancy was George Frederick b. 1897 (O/N/D Basford-Keeling) who died in 1898 (J/A/S Basford) before his first birthday. In 1901 John (36) a joiner and Phoebe (46) were living at 49 Sherwood Street, East Kirkby, with their sons John (7), Robert (5) and Frederick (2). By 1911 the family was living at 55 Sherwood Street. John William snr was unemployed but his wife Phoebe was a shopkeeper (general) while John (17) was a billiard marker at the Borough Club and Robert (15) a golf caddie (golf links) and Frederick (12) was still at school. The youngest surviving child, Frederick, probably died two years later in 1913 (A/M/J Basford). John William's brother, Robert, served in the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters (203518 Private) and was posted missing in September 1917; his death was later confirmed as 26 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. (See record on this ROH.) His parents were still living at 55 Sherwood Street when his brother Robert's personal effects were returned to them in 1918. Phoebe Brindley died in 1929 (O/N/D Basford) and John William Brindley in 1933 (J/F/M Basford).
John William joined the Sherwood Foresters in 1914. He was shot and killed on 29 April 1915 while on sentry duty in the trenches and is buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave. ref. E.84).
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Also in memory of Pte. Robert Brindley brother of the above aged 22 years' Mansfield Reporter, 7 May 1915: ‘Kirkby Sentry Shot. Letter from the Officer Commanding. Mr Brindley of 55, Sherwood-street, East Kirkby, has lost his only son (sic), shot dead whilst serving his country in France. He was 22 years of age last month and joined the 8th Sherwood Foresters about six months ago. His parents received the following letter from Lieut.-Colonel Herbert Fowler, the officer commanding, on Wednesday: ‘I am very sorry to have to tell you that your son, John W Brindley, was shot in the trenches yesterday. He died almost at once. He was on sentry duty just after dinner time, when a bullet came over and shot him in the head. The trenches where he was are very close to the German lines, so there is always a risk of getting shot like this. I can only say how we sympathise with you and your family in this sad loss which has come upon you. The only consolation is that he has died a true soldier’s death, as a gallant man fighting for his king and country. He was buried last night in the military cemetery here by the brigade chaplain, Capt. Hales, in a beautiful spot well cared for by the military, and you shall have a photograph of the same later.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Lt Col GH Fowler was killed by a sniper on 15 October 1915 while trying to rescue Major Becher of the 8th Bn who had been severely wounded. (See records for both on this ROH)
