BRABROOK, Frederick William


No.TF/241672, Private, Frederick William BRABROOK
Aged 20


1st/8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment
Killed in Acton on Tuesday, 10th April 1917


Born on 13th March 1896 in Walthamstow, (2nd qtr West Ham 4a:344) son of John James and Margaret Maria BRABROOK (née ROBINSON), baptised in St.Mary's Walthamstow on 18th May 1898.


1901 census...Aged 5, he was at 33 Elliott Street, Ipswich as a visitor, with his father John Brabrook [43] an iron turner, born Bury St.Edmunds, to the family of Fred and Sophie Lambert. His mother, Margaret BRABROOK [42] born London, was at 26 Griggs Road, Leyton with his brothers John [9], George [3] and Horace [7 months]; sister Margaret [7]. All the children were born in Walthamstow

His mother died 24/12/1901

1911 census...Aged 15, a printer/compositor, he was at 32 The Butts, Bury St.Edmunds with his widower father, an engineer in iron works; brother John [19] shop porter, sister Margaret [17], brothers George [13] and Horace [10]. All the siblings were born in Walthamstow.

His father died in 1912.

His brother John James died on 3rd September 1916 see here
Brother George Thomas died in 1918 see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 4th March 1916, single, giving his age as 19 years 11 months, address 32 Cullum Road, Bury St.Edmunds, occupation, printer. 5 feet 11 inches tall, chest 32" to 35", weighing 126 lbs. Next of kin his brother John, 2615 3rd Suffolks in Felixstowe.
Placed in the 1st/8th Middlesex Regiment, No.6153, renumbered in 1917 to TF/241672.
Posted to BEF on 31st August 1916, via Folkestone-Boulogne 1st Sept., joining unit on 20th September. He was admitted to 9 General Hospital with dysentery on 25th October and rejoined the battalion on 23rd November.

His belongings (letters, cards, photos and wallet) were posted to Mrs Margaret S HILL, 14 Cullum Road, Bury St.Edmunds (It was she who completed Army "Living relatives" form in 1919, recording parents dead, leaving herself and brother Eric Horace, 19 yrs old. no.85257 8 platoon, B Coy, 2/4th Queens R.West Surrey on the Rhine.

The War Diary :-
"11am The Btn moved into position for the attack on Nepal Trench (Hindenburg Line).
12 noon Advance started but was held up owing to enemy machine gun fire. B and D Coys advanced to within 200 yds of Nepal Trench where they were forced to dig in. A and C Coys were in support in trench about 200 yds behind. During this time there was much sniping and C Coy were shelled intermittently."


CWGC figures have 11 of the battalion killed, 8 of them with no known grave.




The Bury Free Press on 26th May 1917 reported :- A PRINTER'S APPRENTICE KILLED - Last week we reprted the sad news of the death in action of Prvt Fred.Brabook of the 8th Middlesec Regiment, which took place on Easter Tuesday. Before joining the Army Prvt Brabrook was serving his apprenticeship at a printing office in Bury St.Edmunds. A sad feature of his death is that he is the second brother to lose his life in the great conflict now raging. Mrs Hill, of Cullum Road is the sister of the dead soldier. His father was the late Mr.John Brabrook of St.John's Street.





photo CWGC


Frederick Brabrook is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France bay 7

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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