Name
William Alfred Brookman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1919
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
58863
Rifle Brigade
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
I. 13. 586.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Son of Harriet BIRCH (formerly BROOKMAN, nee BUGDEN) of Watford and the late Thomas Henry BROOKMAN.
His parents married 1899 in the Wandsworth, London, district. Thomas died 1904 in the Wandsworth district aged 40. Harriet remarried 17 May 1915 at St Mary’s, Watford, to William BIRCH; she died 22 January 1953 in Watford aged 73, and was buried 28 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 7 November 1900 in Toddington, Beds, and attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 30 August 1910 to 28 October 1914. He was buried 25 April.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 months he lived in Watford, with his mother and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, a scholar aged 10, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He appears to have no medals, and died at the General Hospital, Cambridge.
There is a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 26 April 1919.
Buried in Watford (Vicarage Road) Cemetery: Plot 1, Row 13, Grave 586.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing; nor does he appear to have an entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
