Robert Brindley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Robert 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 East Kirkby. 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. When Robert enlisted in 1915 he gave his occupation as grocery manager so he may have been working for his mother. The youngest surviving child, Frederick, probably died two years later in 1913 (A/M/J Basford). Robert's brother, John William, served in the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Private 2700) and was shot and killed on 29 April 1915 while on sentry duty in the trenches. He was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery. (See record on this ROH.) His parents were still living at 55 Sherwood Street when 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).
Robert attested on 12 December 1915 at the age of 20 years and 62 days. He served initially in the 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters and later the 2/5th battalion. He served at home from 21 January 1916 but this included service in Dublin when on 26 April 1916 during the riots he suffered a gunshot wound to a finger on his left hand. The medical report records the details (incomplete, burnt record): 'small finger (-) phalanx completely destroyed with part of mid phalanx (-) away; went septic, operated on and treated with aseptic (-) almost healed. Recommended for convalescence. Transferred to Temple Hill Convalescent Hospital. Discharged to barracks. Recommended for one months light duty.' It appears that he was admitted to hospital on 29 April 1916-11 May 1916, transferred (hospital) 5 May 1916-6 June 1916, Temple Hill 6 June 1916-19 July 1916. He served in France from 26 February 1917 during which time he was admitted to hospital on at least three occasions suffering from suspected dysentry and severe diarrhoea and had a period in hospital in Calais (reason unspecified) from 20 June until discharged to duty on 9 July. He was reported missing following an attack on Otto Farm near Gravenstafel, Belgium. His army service record includes a report dated 15 November 1917: 'Burial Report D13.C6.1 (-) before Somme Farm (-) corner of hedge.' and that his death was reported in a Daily Casualty Report of 4 December as 'KIA or DOW on or shortly after 26 September.' He had served for 1 year 289 days. Robert's grave was later lost or could not be identified as he is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Mansfield Reporter, 23 November 1917: ‘Local Casualties ... Missing. Sherwood Foresters. R Brindley 203528,. East Kirkby’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John was his legatee WW1 Pension Ledgers: John and Phoebe Brindley
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