Name
Joseph Bilson Bracey
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/10/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33477
Hampshire Regiment
11th Bn.
“C” Coy
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ERQUELINNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
43.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THEY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS R.I.P.
UK & Other Memorials
Not listed on the St Ippolyts memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Gosmore, Frimley and Camberley Great War Memorial
Pre War
Joseph Bilson Bracey was born in the first quarter of 1898 and his birth was registered in Hitchin, but various census records his birthplace as St Ippolyts. He was the son of Jessie and Clara Emily Bracey, who, after his death were recorded at Alphington Stables, Frimley, Surrey.
In 1901 his parents living in Gosmore. Jessie was 33 and working as a coachman domestic, his wife Clara was 32. Their children were: Edward Frank (5), Joseph (3) and Maud (1).
Not much had changed in 1911. The family were still living in Gosmore and Jessie still a coachman domestic. The children listed were as listed above plus Maud (11) and Alice Lucy (1). Joseph was 13 and working as a domestic gardener.
Officially recorded as born Gosmore, Herts, and living in Sandhurst when he enlisted in Wokingham Surrey.
Wartime Service
Joseph enlisted in Wokingham, Berkshire, served initially in the Royal Berkshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 23881. Later he served in the 11th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 33477.
Joseph was taken as Prisoner of War on 23rd March 1918, at Ste. Emilie, France. At the time he was with “C” Company, 11th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
He died of pneumonia on 30th October 1918, in a German War Hospital, he was buried by the German authorities in Grave 43 of the Erquelinnes Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
His pension card records his mother as Mrs Clara Emily Bracey at Broadway Road, Sandhurst. She received a pension of 5s a week from 12 August 1919.
After his death £30 9s 2d was authorised to go to his father on 22 December 1919 which included a war gratuity of £14.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
