No.6034, Private, Archibald Rowing BRASNETT
Aged 36
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Archibald Rowing Brasnett was born in 1880 in Hempton, Fakenham (Walsingham Q3-1880 4B:296), son of John and Susannah BRASNETT (née DURRANT).
1881 census...Aged 8 months, he was at Hempton with his father John [32] a miller, born in Mattishall; his mother Susannah [32] born Garveston, Norfolk; sisters Sarah [12] born Garvestone, Mary [10] born East Dereham, Alice [6] born Fakenham and Julia [5] born Hempton; brothers Frederick [8] born East Dereham and John [2] born Hempton. 1891 census...Aged 10, he was "in the Street, Grantchester, Cambridge with his parents (father now recorded as born in Garvestone), sister Mary, brother Frederick (gardener), sister Julia, brother John, brothers Charley [8] born Fakenham and Thomas [1] born Grantchester, sisters Maud [6] and Ethel [3] both born in Grantchester and a cousin George [2 months] born Grantchester but no parentage recorded. 1901 census...Aged 20 he was in Sheerness in the Royal Artillery. His parents were at 1a York Terrace, Grantchester with is sisters Maud and Ethel, and brothers Thomas and Walter[7] born Grantchester. 1911 census...Aged 30, a farm labourer, he was at Six Mile Bottom, with his parents, brothers John, Thomas, and Walter (all farm labourers) and also Louis COVILL [29] born Bottisham Lode and Ethel COVILL [23] born Grantchester (probably sister and her husband). The pension card has his mother in Six Mile Bottom and also notes Mrs.A.A.WEBB of 3 Grosvenor Cottages, Newmarket as guardian of an illegitimate child but no details of the child. Elder brother Frederick was a regular soldier, first in the Suffolk Regiment from November 1891 and then in the Military Foot Police from July 1903, being discharged after completing 18 years on 31st May 1911. He married Elizabeth Caroline Bettesworth 5 days later in Southampton. Straight back into the Military Foot Police on 7th September 1914, he survived the war and settled in the Southampton area. His younger brother Walter Edward Brasnett died of his wounds on 9th April 1918. see here |
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He enlisted in London on 5th February 1901 in the Royal Artillery, joining the depot at Dover. He was 5 feet 9.74 inches (177.1 cm) tall, weighed 147 lbs (66.9), chest 35.5"
to 38" (90.2 to 96.5 cm), blue eyed, dark haired and a Baptist. He gave his place of birth as Fakenham , occupation porter, and age 20 1/2 years. He signed for 7 years in
the colours, 5 on Reserve
On 29th March 1901 he was posted to 22 Coy., and then with the Royal Garrison Artillery was posted to India on 23rd October 1901. In 8th March 1902 he was posted to 82 Coy., then on 1st June 1902 he transferred to the Suffolk Regiment #6034, 2nd Battalion. On 1st April 1904 he extended his service to 8 years. Returning to England on 27th December 1907, at his own request on 6th July 1908 he transferred to the Reserves. He re-engaged for 4 years on 5th February 1913 and was mobilised on 5th August 1914, joining the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, but moving on to the 2nd Battalion on 7th October 1914 when he joined the BEF in France. He was wounded in the hand near Bailleul in France on 4th December 1914, admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, then to No. 8 C.C.S. before being evacuated to England via HMHS'Nile' on 7th December. His recovery is not noted, but he was transferred again on 6th January 1915 to the 3rd Battalion. He was promoted Lance Corporal on 18th March 1915 and but he returned to France from Southampton on 24th March 1915, to the 1st Battalion. Transferred again, to the 3rd Battalion on 28th March 1915 . A month later, 24th April 1915 he was wounded, Gunshot wounds to right hand, fractured right arm, shrapnel wounds to right leg, left wrist. Admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance, he then proceeded to 10 C.C.S. at Hazebrouk, before reaching 16 General Hospital at Boulogne and being evacuated to England on 5th May 1915. His disability was placed at 75% for 6 months followed by 50% permanent. It appear one leg was now shorter than the other and further operations were needed to improve his arm and ring finger. Refusing further operations he was discharged from the Army as no longer fit for active service on 30th May 1916 and received a pension of 22 shillings (£1.10) per week. He died on 24th April 1917 (Chesterton Q2 1917 3B:498). He is unrecognised on Commonwealth War Graves and "Soldiers Died" as his death was not caused by or aggravated by war service. Discharged due to wounds, he actually died of TB, It seems unlikely that he would not have qualified for the clasp to his 1914 star, but this was not claimed by his family (the clasp was not instituted until 1919. |
