Private Robert John Brazier, Norfolks, 1919
8023 Private
ROBERT JOHN BRAZIER
Norfolk Regiment
19th February 1919 Age 47.
BRAZIER, ROBERT JOHN
Rank:……………………………..Private
Service No:……………….….8023
Date of Death:………………19/02/1919
Age:……………………………….47
Regiment:………………………Norfolk Regiment
1st Bn. transf. to (401255) 675th H S Employment Coy. Labour Corps
Grave Reference:………….54. 189.
Cemetery:...........................NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Additional Information:
Husband of Annie Elizabeth Brazier, of 28, Sun Lane, New Catton, Norwich.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803063/BRAZIER,%20RO...
No match on Soldiers Died in the Great War.
The Medal Index Card for Private 401255 Robert J. Brazier, Labour Corps is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/3/50730.
He was previously Private 8023 Norfolk Regiment.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1465573
His Regimental Service Medal Rolls shows that he served with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and the Labour Corps.
He was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal, as well as the 1914/15 Star.
His WW1 Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army service records were stored. However a few brief records appear to have survived from an earlier period of service.
A Robert John Brazier, aged 18 years and 11 months, born Lakenham, Norwich, enlisted at Norwich on the 8th November 1892 for General Service in the Infantry. He was already serving in the Territorial Army with the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. A single man, he was a Labourer by trade. His next of kin was his father, John Brazier, of 17 Portland Place, New Lakenham, Norwich. At his medical he weighed 126lbs and was 5 feet 6 and seven-eights tall. He had a sallow complexion, with brown eyes and black hair. He was found fit for the Army. He was posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment on the 10th November and given service number 3338.
After his initial training at the Depot he was posted to the 1st Battalion on the 7th January 1893. He them moved to either the 2nd or 3rd Battalion, (bad handwriting) on the 12th December 1893. They were then serving in the Straits Settlement.He received his first Good Conduct pay rise on the 8th November 1894.
His next move saw him back with the 1st Battalion from the 19th April 1895 at Malta, moving with them To Egypt on the 4th February 1897, taking part in the Nile Expedition and fighting in the Battles of Albara and Khartoum and serving there until the 18th October 1898, when the Battalion arrived in India. He received a 2nd Good Conduct pay increase on the 8th November 1898.
On the 17th February 1902 he transfers again to the 2nd or 3rd Battalion who were serving in South Africa and in July 1902 he received a War Gratuity which is stated to have been paid in South Africa. Arriving back in the UK on the 7th September 1902, he then had a Bounty Furlough from the 10th September 1902 to the 10th February 1903 before being transferred to the Reserve on the 11th February 1903. He received medals for his service in the Sudan and in South Africa.
He subsequently re-engaged on the 14th October 1904 and was discharged on the 7th November 1908.
1872 – Birth and Baptism
The birth of a Robert John Brazier was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Norwich in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1872.
The baptism of a Robert John Brazier, born 20th March 1872, took place on the Norwich Primitive Methodist Circuit on the 12th September 1872. Parents were John, a Mustard Maker, and Martha.
www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818cdeee93790eca3dc9bf...
There is no obvious marriage of a John Brazier to a Martha in the Civil records – however before 1911 the quarterly published indexes for England and Wales issued by the General Registrars Office did not cross reference who married who. Much work has been done over the years by genealogy sites to try and tie down this, but most go no further than identifying all the individuals recorded on one particular page of each register. There is no likely match for any John Brazier getting married in the Norwich District.
After finding the correct names, (in my opinion), I then went looking for a likely marriage. It may be a coincidence but it looks like a John Bruce married a Martha Brazier in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1872.
1881 Census of England and Wales
There is no obvious match for Robert John or his parents on this census. However having found a possible candidate on the 1891 census I came back and looked again using those names and ages – see below.
The Bruce family were already living at Portland Place, Lakenham, Norwich. Parents John, (50, Mustardmaker, born Downham, Norfolk), and Martha, (32, born Cambridge) were living there with their unmarried children:-
Elizabeth……..aged 22…..born Norwich…Starch Packer
Harriet………..aged 16…..born Norwich…Housemaid
John…………..aged 11…..born Norwich
Robert J………aged 9……born Norwich
Edward J……..aged 5…….born Norwich.
1891 Census of England and Wales
There is no obvious match for Robert John or his parents on this census. However, living at 17 Portland Place, Lakenham, (the address for his father John when Robert enlisted in November 1892) was a family whose surname to me looks like Bruce, although the genealogy site I use for basic Census look ups has transcribed it as “Bruel”.
The family consists of father John, (aged 61?, a Mustard Worker, born Wareham(?), Norfolk) and mother Martha, (aged 42, a Tailoress, born Cambridge) and children:-
Harriet…..aged 25….born Norwich…..Tailoress
Robert…..aged 19…..born Norwich…..General Labourer
Edward…aged 14…...born Norwich….General Labourer
George….aged 9…….born Norwich
It may be a coincidence but living next door is a 70 year old widow, Elizabeth Bales, born Freethorpe, Norwich. Part of her household is an 11 year old grandson, William Bruce, born Norwich.
The death of a 65 year old John Bruce was recorded in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1896.
1901 Census of England and Wales
Robert was in India at this time so will not be recorded on the census.
His widowed mother, the 53 year old Martha Bruce, a Tailors Machinist working from home, was recorded as the head of the household at 104 Millers Lane, New Catton, Norwich. She lives there with her unmarried daughter “Harriett” who like her mother works from home, but as a Jacket Finisher.
The most likely candidate for his future wife is the 34 year old unmarried Anne E. Youngman, an employed Tailoress working from home, born Jarrow, Durham, who was recorded living at No.10, Sprowston Road, Norwich, with her parents. They are Charles, (58, Carpenter, born Upper Sheringham, Norfolk) and Susannah, (57, born South Creake, Norfolk, sadly recorded as paralysed). “Their” other children living with them are:-
‘Chas’ Henry……aged 31…..born Langham, Norfolk…Paper Hanger
Harriet Alice…….aged 13…..born Norwich
Willie Hubert……aged 2……born Norwich
1905 – Marriage
The marriage of a Robert John Brazier to an Annie Elizabeth Youngman was recorded in the Norwich District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1905.
1911 Census of England and Wales
The 39 year old Robert John Brazier, a General Labourer at the Norfolk Iron Works, born New Lakenham, Norwich, was recorded as the married head of the household at No.106 Millers Lane, New Catton. He lives there with his wife of 5 years, Annie ‘Elizth’ (aged 45, born Newcastle on Tyne). The couple have had two children so far, the twins George Herbert and Sydney Walter, aged 5 and born Norwich. Robert also has a step-son living with him, the 13 year old William Herbert Youngman, (born Norwich). Completing the household is a 41 year old unmarried boarder, Henry Charles Youngman, a Paper Hanger born Langham, Norfolk.
His mother, the 63 year old Martha E Bruce, born Cambridge, was recorded living with her married son George at 16 Russell Street, Wisbech.
Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows no likely additional children of Robert and Martha.
On the day
The death of a 48 year old Robert J Brazier was recorded in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1919.
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 401255 Robert Brazier who died on the 19th February 1919.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Brazier&Su...
Postscript
It looks like Annie probably died, aged 60, in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1927.
Private Robert John Brazier, Norfolks, 1919
8023 Private
ROBERT JOHN BRAZIER
Norfolk Regiment
19th February 1919 Age 47.
BRAZIER, ROBERT JOHN
Rank:……………………………..Private
Service No:……………….….8023
Date of Death:………………19/02/1919
Age:……………………………….47
Regiment:………………………Norfolk Regiment
1st Bn. transf. to (401255) 675th H S Employment Coy. Labour Corps
Grave Reference:………….54. 189.
Cemetery:...........................NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Additional Information:
Husband of Annie Elizabeth Brazier, of 28, Sun Lane, New Catton, Norwich.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803063/BRAZIER,%20RO...
No match on Soldiers Died in the Great War.
The Medal Index Card for Private 401255 Robert J. Brazier, Labour Corps is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/3/50730.
He was previously Private 8023 Norfolk Regiment.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1465573
His Regimental Service Medal Rolls shows that he served with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and the Labour Corps.
He was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal, as well as the 1914/15 Star.
His WW1 Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army service records were stored. However a few brief records appear to have survived from an earlier period of service.
A Robert John Brazier, aged 18 years and 11 months, born Lakenham, Norwich, enlisted at Norwich on the 8th November 1892 for General Service in the Infantry. He was already serving in the Territorial Army with the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. A single man, he was a Labourer by trade. His next of kin was his father, John Brazier, of 17 Portland Place, New Lakenham, Norwich. At his medical he weighed 126lbs and was 5 feet 6 and seven-eights tall. He had a sallow complexion, with brown eyes and black hair. He was found fit for the Army. He was posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment on the 10th November and given service number 3338.
After his initial training at the Depot he was posted to the 1st Battalion on the 7th January 1893. He them moved to either the 2nd or 3rd Battalion, (bad handwriting) on the 12th December 1893. They were then serving in the Straits Settlement.He received his first Good Conduct pay rise on the 8th November 1894.
His next move saw him back with the 1st Battalion from the 19th April 1895 at Malta, moving with them To Egypt on the 4th February 1897, taking part in the Nile Expedition and fighting in the Battles of Albara and Khartoum and serving there until the 18th October 1898, when the Battalion arrived in India. He received a 2nd Good Conduct pay increase on the 8th November 1898.
On the 17th February 1902 he transfers again to the 2nd or 3rd Battalion who were serving in South Africa and in July 1902 he received a War Gratuity which is stated to have been paid in South Africa. Arriving back in the UK on the 7th September 1902, he then had a Bounty Furlough from the 10th September 1902 to the 10th February 1903 before being transferred to the Reserve on the 11th February 1903. He received medals for his service in the Sudan and in South Africa.
He subsequently re-engaged on the 14th October 1904 and was discharged on the 7th November 1908.
1872 – Birth and Baptism
The birth of a Robert John Brazier was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Norwich in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1872.
The baptism of a Robert John Brazier, born 20th March 1872, took place on the Norwich Primitive Methodist Circuit on the 12th September 1872. Parents were John, a Mustard Maker, and Martha.
www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818cdeee93790eca3dc9bf...
There is no obvious marriage of a John Brazier to a Martha in the Civil records – however before 1911 the quarterly published indexes for England and Wales issued by the General Registrars Office did not cross reference who married who. Much work has been done over the years by genealogy sites to try and tie down this, but most go no further than identifying all the individuals recorded on one particular page of each register. There is no likely match for any John Brazier getting married in the Norwich District.
After finding the correct names, (in my opinion), I then went looking for a likely marriage. It may be a coincidence but it looks like a John Bruce married a Martha Brazier in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1872.
1881 Census of England and Wales
There is no obvious match for Robert John or his parents on this census. However having found a possible candidate on the 1891 census I came back and looked again using those names and ages – see below.
The Bruce family were already living at Portland Place, Lakenham, Norwich. Parents John, (50, Mustardmaker, born Downham, Norfolk), and Martha, (32, born Cambridge) were living there with their unmarried children:-
Elizabeth……..aged 22…..born Norwich…Starch Packer
Harriet………..aged 16…..born Norwich…Housemaid
John…………..aged 11…..born Norwich
Robert J………aged 9……born Norwich
Edward J……..aged 5…….born Norwich.
1891 Census of England and Wales
There is no obvious match for Robert John or his parents on this census. However, living at 17 Portland Place, Lakenham, (the address for his father John when Robert enlisted in November 1892) was a family whose surname to me looks like Bruce, although the genealogy site I use for basic Census look ups has transcribed it as “Bruel”.
The family consists of father John, (aged 61?, a Mustard Worker, born Wareham(?), Norfolk) and mother Martha, (aged 42, a Tailoress, born Cambridge) and children:-
Harriet…..aged 25….born Norwich…..Tailoress
Robert…..aged 19…..born Norwich…..General Labourer
Edward…aged 14…...born Norwich….General Labourer
George….aged 9…….born Norwich
It may be a coincidence but living next door is a 70 year old widow, Elizabeth Bales, born Freethorpe, Norwich. Part of her household is an 11 year old grandson, William Bruce, born Norwich.
The death of a 65 year old John Bruce was recorded in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1896.
1901 Census of England and Wales
Robert was in India at this time so will not be recorded on the census.
His widowed mother, the 53 year old Martha Bruce, a Tailors Machinist working from home, was recorded as the head of the household at 104 Millers Lane, New Catton, Norwich. She lives there with her unmarried daughter “Harriett” who like her mother works from home, but as a Jacket Finisher.
The most likely candidate for his future wife is the 34 year old unmarried Anne E. Youngman, an employed Tailoress working from home, born Jarrow, Durham, who was recorded living at No.10, Sprowston Road, Norwich, with her parents. They are Charles, (58, Carpenter, born Upper Sheringham, Norfolk) and Susannah, (57, born South Creake, Norfolk, sadly recorded as paralysed). “Their” other children living with them are:-
‘Chas’ Henry……aged 31…..born Langham, Norfolk…Paper Hanger
Harriet Alice…….aged 13…..born Norwich
Willie Hubert……aged 2……born Norwich
1905 – Marriage
The marriage of a Robert John Brazier to an Annie Elizabeth Youngman was recorded in the Norwich District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1905.
1911 Census of England and Wales
The 39 year old Robert John Brazier, a General Labourer at the Norfolk Iron Works, born New Lakenham, Norwich, was recorded as the married head of the household at No.106 Millers Lane, New Catton. He lives there with his wife of 5 years, Annie ‘Elizth’ (aged 45, born Newcastle on Tyne). The couple have had two children so far, the twins George Herbert and Sydney Walter, aged 5 and born Norwich. Robert also has a step-son living with him, the 13 year old William Herbert Youngman, (born Norwich). Completing the household is a 41 year old unmarried boarder, Henry Charles Youngman, a Paper Hanger born Langham, Norfolk.
His mother, the 63 year old Martha E Bruce, born Cambridge, was recorded living with her married son George at 16 Russell Street, Wisbech.
Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows no likely additional children of Robert and Martha.
On the day
The death of a 48 year old Robert J Brazier was recorded in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1919.
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 401255 Robert Brazier who died on the 19th February 1919.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Brazier&Su...
Postscript
It looks like Annie probably died, aged 60, in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1927.