Name
Alexander James Brownsell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/11/1914
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9150
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GRANGEGORMAN MILITARY CEMETERY
CE.572
Republic of Ireland
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End, St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End
Pre War
Alexander was born on the 13th of March 1888 and baptised on the 8th of April in Mill End, the son of Joseph and Eleanor Ann (nee Forder) Brownsell. Joseph was a General Labourer They married in 1883 in Mill End. Eleanor was a widow with a son, Alfred born in Jersey, and previously married to William Champ. His death has not been traced.
In 1891 the family including Alexander age 3, three siblings, and his step brother Alfred , were living in Brown Row, Rickmansworth. His mother died in 1892 age 42 and in 1893 his father Joseph married Annie Jennings in Mill End. 1901 saw the family at 3 Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth, but Alexander was not with them and his whereabouts have not been traced.
He joined the army on the 6th of January 1906 being described as having a height of 5’ 5 1/2”, weighing 120 pounds, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair and living at 3 Ivy Cottages, Mill End. He was working for a Farmer, Mr Wilds, in Church Lane, Mill End.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford on the 06/01/1906 age 17 years 10 months.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment as No 5495 on 6th of January 1906; when transferred to 2nd Battalion not known.
Alexander's Regiment disembarked at Ostend and Zeebrugge between the 6th and 8th of October 1914 and arrived at Bruges on the 9th. They covered the withdrawal of the Allied troops from Antwerp, entered Ypres on the 14th and marched to Menin on the 18th. Alexander was probably wounded either in the action at Langemarck 21st to 24th or at Gheluvelt on 29th to 31st of October.
He died of his wounds in Meath hospital in Dublin on the 8th of November 1914.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
