No. 17757, Private, Harry William BRINKLEY
Aged 33
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Harry William Brinkley was born in 1882 in Preston,(nr Lavenham) Suffolk, (Cosford Q4-1882 4A:589), son of Frederick William and Ellen BRINKLEY
(née BRADLEY).
1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Upper Green, Higham with his father Frederick W. BRINKLEY [32] farm labourer born Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk; his mother Ellen [35] born Cockfield, half sister Anna BRADLEY [14] born Cockfield and brother Walter J [6] born Preston. 1901 census...Aged 18, a carter on farm, he was still at Upper Green with his widowed mother and brother Walter (farm labourer). His father died in 1899. In Q2-1904 he married Harriett Sarah TAYLOR born 31-10-1880 in Stepney, London. 1911 census...Aged 28, a shepherd, he was at 73 Upper Green, Higham with his wife Harriett Sarah and children, Bernard William TAYLOR[15-4-1904] born Exning, Geoffrey Frederick [19-4-1905] born Higham, Ruth Ellen [16-6-1907] born Higham and Spencer Hugh [17-1-1910] born Higham. His mother was at 61 Higham, with his brother Walter John and his half-sister Anna, married to Albert TALBOT [36], a farm labourer born in Barrow There were two more children, Leslie John [16-5-1912] and Frank Roland [12-3-1915], the address on the pension card was 63 Upper Green, Higham |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. On 15th September 1916 the 9th Suffolk were engaged in the battle of Flers-Courcelette, their objective being the ridge between Morval and Les Boeufs. Over the top at 6:20, by 8:30 all the senior officers were killed or wounded. Against terrible machine gun fire from the Quadrilateral they were unable to progress and gradually dug in. They held on until relieved around midnight and moved into support trenches on 17th. General Douglas Haig maintained afterwards that the enemy had prior warning of the attack and the use of tanks. The battalion lost 100 killed on the 16th, 80 of them have no known grave and are named on the Thiepval memorial. Two Kirtling men died with him, Arthur BLOIS and William VEARER. The Bury Free Press of 21st October 1916 reported:- HIGHAM MAN FALLS IN BATTLE We record with regret the death of Prvt.Garry Brinkley,9th Battn, Suffolk Regiment, who, it is officially stated, was killed on or about September 16th. He was the eldest son of the late Mr.and Mrs.Brinkley of Upper Green, Higham, and joined the Army in January 1915, going out to France August 30th 1915. he had his last leave in May 1916. The deceased soldier, who was 33 years of age, was of a very quiet disposition, and his death is much regretted by many friends. Deepest sympathy is extended to the bereaved wife and six small children in their great sorrow. Deceased's brother, Driver Walter Brinkley is serving in the R.F.A.
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