Born: 1898, Shipley
Died: 29 November 1918, Wardown Hospital, Luton
Buried: Windhill Cemetery
Address: 59 Carr Lane, Windhill
Parents: William Henry & Elizabeth (nee Kershaw)
Spouse:
Siblings: 8
Occupation: Victoria Works, Shipley
Organisations/clubs: Christchurch choir
Military
Rank: Driver
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Christchurch, Windhill
Children:
Regiment: RFA
Arthur Brearley
Arthur Brearley was the son of
William Henry Brearley and his
wife Elizabeth, nee Kershaw.
William was a wood turner and the
family moved around the Bradford
area, taking up residence at 48
Valley Street in Shipley around
1895.
Arthur, the youngest of nine
children, was born 1898 in Shipley.
In 1904 they were living at 1
Butterfield Street in Shipley. 1905
found them at 43 Carr Lane in
Windhill, moving to 59 Carr Lane
around 1915. In 1911 Arthur was a
scholar and part time doffer.
When working at the Victoria
Works in Shipley, Arthur enlisted
on 29 December 1914 as a Driver
with the Royal Field Artillery.
On 27 October 1916, the Shipley
Times & Express reported:
“Driver Arthur
Brearley, R.F.A., the
son of Mr and Mrs
William Henry
Brearley of 59 Carr
Lane, Windhill, is at
present in a military
hospital in Liverpool,
suffering from
malarial fever.
“He is only 18 years
of age and when he
joined on the outbreak
of the war he had only
just attained the age of 16. He has
served in Salonica.
“Mr and Mrs Brearley have two
other sons with the colours, Driver
Albert Edward Brearley (22)
A.S.C. now in France, and Driver
Joseph Brearley, R.F.A. who is in
training at Wangford.”
The illness clearly took a
heavy toll on Arthur
because on 6 December
1918, less than a month
after the armistice, we
read:
“The funeral took place
with full military honours
at Windhill Crag
Cemetery, following a
service at the Windhill
Parish Church, of Driver
Arthur Brearley, R.F.A.,
youngest son of Mr and
Mrs W H Brearley of 59 Carr Lane,
Windhill, and who died of double
pneumonia.
“The coffin, which was covered by
a Union Jack, was carried on a gun
carriage. Three volleys were fired
over the grave and the ‘Last Post’
was sounded.
“Mr and Mrs Brearley were present
at the Wardown Hospital, Luton,
when their son died.
“He enlisted on 29th December
1914, was invalided home with
malaria from Salonica in
September 1916 and was 20 years
of age at the time of his death.
“In civil life he was employed at
the Victoria Works, Shipley, was a
member of the Windhill Parish
Church choir and was also
connected with the local friendly
society.
“Two of his brothers are at the
front.”
Thanks to Colin Coates for his help
with the research into Arthur’s life