George Brackner
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
His father, George, was born in Blidworth in about 1857 and his mother was born Sarah Ann Burdett, the daughter of a well known local bricklayer. They married in Nottingham in August 1871. Sarah had been previously married (to Thomas Thorpe) and widowed and brought two children to her new marriage. By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 8 Broughton Street, Beeston with George senior working as a bricklayer for the Midland Railway. The couple had by then, had seven children of their own - six of them boys - all of them of school age except the oldest, their only daughter Alice Lavinia who was working as a lace mender. Also present was the children's half sister, Mary Thorpe and her baby daughter. Two brothers (John William 31/5/1918) and William (27/5/1918) were also killed in action. The boys of the Brackner family all attended the Church Street School. George was registered in the Boys Brigade on 18th September 1909 at the age of 14; at this time he worked as a lace factory hand with the firm of Mr. H.L.Birkin. While in the Boys Brigade his favourite class was always in the Gymnastics. He also attended the yearly camps.
He was one of the party of ex-Beeston Boys Brigade boys who marched together to enlist at the Derby Road, Nottingham Recruitment Centre on 31 August 1914 where, along with Jim Martin, Dann Humphreys and over 20 others, he joined the 9th Service Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Also in this group was his brother William who was one place in front of George at the Recruitment Centre. Having survived the August actions at Suvla, George became ill in October and he died of Pyrexia on the 25th October 1915. He was in the 26th Casualty Clearing Station, which was close to the coast at Suvla Bay, in a dangerously ill state and died there. He was buried in the nearby Hill 10 Cemetery, Suvla. The 26th CCS war dairy for 25 October 1915 - Officers admitted 5 Other ranks 124; Officers evacuated 5 other ranks 62.; Seven deaths which included - 9th Bn 13908, Pte Brackner G, P.U.O. John Morse
Article published in the 'Beeston Gazette and Echo' on 4th April 1914: LADS' CLUB MEMORIAL SERVICE. “Another of our brave Beeston boys has laid down his life at the call of duty, and a memorial service was held in the Lads' Club classroom on Sunday last. [5th December 1915] The young hero was George Brackner, whose parents live at Clinton street, Beeston, and he died in hospital at the Dardanelles from fever, on October 25th. He was only 20 years of age and he was one of the first members of the Club. He was the winner of the New Zealand medal for the best gymnast in the club, [1] the Searle medal for muscular development, and was the leader of the winning squad for the challenge clasp. Speaking at the service, the Rev. Mr. Gooch said that George Brackner died for his country just as much as if he had fallen on the field of battle. Mr. S. Hetley Pearson also paid a fine tribute to the lad, whose keenness was well known amongst all his clubmates.” [2] Born in Beeston, the former lace factory hand enlisted at Nottingham on 31st August 1914. He was the 20 year-old son of George Brackner, of 15 Clinton Street, later 1 Broughton Street, Beeston, and the late Sarah Ann Brackner (d. 16th September 1914). He had enlisted with his brother, William Brackner (having consecutive regimental numbers). William Brackner served with 9th Battalion before transferring to 1st Battalion. Promoted sergeant, he was killed in action on the Aisne during the German attack on 27th May 1918. As with many others who lost their lives that day, he is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial. Above aricle is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 . Another brother, L/Cpl. John William Brackner, 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action on 31st May 1918. Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, he was the 26 year-old son of George Brackner, of 7 Broughton Street, Beeston; husband of Ethel Brackner, of 66 Lower Regent Street, Beeston.
