Name
Henry (Harry) Brackley
17 Jun 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
134574
Royal Garrison Artillery
76th Siege Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. HILAIRE CEMETERY, FREVENT
IV. A. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT OUT OF MIND. NANCE
UK & Other Memorials
Tring War Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, New Mill Baptist Church, Tring
Pre War
Henry (Harry) Brackley was born in 17 Jun 1887 in Wendover, Bucks, the son of James Brackley, farm labourer, and Eliza (nee Wright), one of eight children although one died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Henry (Harry), William (born 1888) and George (born 1890, died 1896) were living at Uphill Farm, Wendover, Bucks, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer.
The family of parents, Harry, William, Mary (born 1892), Thomas (Tom, born 1895), Eva May (born 1898) and Amy (born 1900) had moved to Tring, Herts by the 1901 Census and were living at Marchcroft, where his father was working as a carter on a farm.
The family of parents, Harry (a grocer’s porter), William (a furniture porter), Tom (a gardener), May, Amy and Olive (born 1903 ). remained at Marchcroft in 1911.
He married Annie Eliza Proctor on 16 Dece 1914 at Berkhamsted and they had a son Thomas Henry born on 24 Oct 1915. At the time of enlistment he was living at 20 King Street, Tring and working as scullery man.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 17 Nov 1915 at Watford and placed into the army reserve, not being mobilised until 7 Dec 1916 when he was posted as a Gunner with the 76th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery initially serving at home but then being sent to France on 11 September 1917. 76 Siege Battery was equipped with four 9.2 inch Howitzwers and while Henry served with them they were attached to No 2 Heavy Artillery Group, being deployed behind the Lines providing long range support. They were also subject to enemy counter-battery fire and he was probably wounded by such. He was evacuated to 6th Stationary Hospital at Frevent in France but died of his wounds at the on 24 Mar 1918 and is buried in St Hilaire Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and arrears of £10 5s 3d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her child. She remarried to William Harding in 1926.
Brother to Thomas Brackley who served with the Grenadier Guards and was killed in action on 17 Oct 1915. He is also named on the Tring Memorials.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
www.roll-of-honour.com
