Main CPGW Record
Surname: BRASSINGTON
Forename(s): William Henry
Place of Birth: Giggleswick, Yorkshire
Service No: ---
Rank: T/Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Tank Corps
Battalion / Unit: 'C' Coy 7th Battalion
Division: ---
Age: 26
Date of Death: 1918-08-25
Awards: M.M.
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: III. F. 23.
CWGC Cemetery: ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: GIGGLESWICK, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SETTLE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
William Henry Brassington was the son of Thomas William and Mary Ellen Brassington, née Bulcock. Thomas was born at Buxton, Derbyshire and Mary at Giggleswick, Yorkshire.
1901 Settle, Yorkshire Census: 20, Craven Terrace - William H. Brassington, aged 9 years, born Giggleswick, Yorkshire, son of Thomas W. and Mary E. Brassington.
1911 Settle, Yorkshire Census: 10, Ribble Terrace - William Henry Brassington, aged 19 years, born Giggleswick, Yorkshire, son of Thomas William and Mary Ellen Brassington.
William is listed in the Nominal Roll of the 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment): Pte W. H. Brassington.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Sgt William Henry Brassington, M.M., 2618, W. Rid. R.; Lt Tank C. Theatre of War first served in: (1) [France]. Date of entry therein: 14.4.1915. Commissioned: 23.11.16. Died 23[sic].8.18. Correspondence: Father: T.W. Brassington, Esq. Ribble View, Settle, Yorks.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Lieut W. H. Brassington. Tank Corps. K. in A. 25.8.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Lt W. H. Brassington. 7th BnTank Corps. Date and Place of Death: 23[sic].8.18. K. in A. To whom Authorised/Amount: Admtx [sic]: Thomas William Bassington [sic] Esq. £113 8s. 8d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: Name(s) on card(s): Mrs M. E., Ripple [sic] View, Settle, Yorks.
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
BRASSINGTON, Lieutenant, Tank Corps, Ribble View, killed in action Aug. 25, 1918.
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T/Lieutenant William Henry BRASSINGTON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Tank Corps
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
The 'Lucky 13' taken at Riby Park, Lincolnshire, October 1914
The group, that called themselves the 'Lucky 13', were serving with the 1/6th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Back left to right - Walter Yates. Fred Close, Robert Clark, John M. Morphet (killed), Arthur Parker, Thomas Brayshaw, William H. Brassington (killed), William Hirst Front row, left to right - Charlie Parker, John R. Jackman (killed), John Cardus, Charles Peachey (killed), John S. Hepworth (killed)
Courtesy of The Brayshaw Library, Giggleswick School
St Alkelda's Churchyard, Giggleswick
Family memorial
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
01 December 1916
SETTLE - MILITARY MEDAL WINNER
The name of Sergt. W.H. Brassington, of the 6th Duke of Wellington's, West Riding Regiment, appeared in the list of recipients of the Military medal, published on Monday, November 13th. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Brassington, Ribble View, Settle. He joined, almost immediately after the outbreak of war, the Settle Territorials, and went with them to France in April, 1915, where they have since seen much fighting. In August last Sergt. Brassington was sent back to train for a Commission, and has since been in training.
06 September 1918
A Settle Tank Officer Killed in Action
Lieutenant W. H. Brassington, of the Tank Corps, who was killed in action near Bapaume on August 25th 1918, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Brassington, Ribble View, Settle. After leaving Giggleswick School he entered the firm of Messrs. Brassington, Sons & Co. Ltd., builders and contractors. On the outbreak of war he was one of the first in this neighbourhood to volunteer, and as a Private joined the 1/6th Duke of Wellington's on September 9th 1914. After six months' training he was drafted over to France in April 1915, and remained there until July 1916, during which time he was promoted, first to Corporal and then to Sergeant, and his name appeared in the 'London Gazette' for November 12th 1916, amongst the Military Medallists. He was then recommended for a commission, and was in due course gazetted Lieutenant on December 7th 1916 in the Machine Gun Corps. Soon after he transferred to the Tank Corps, and went into further training at Bovington Camp until June 1917, when he went across to France, where he was until he met with his death.
His Captain writes:- "Early this morning he started off, one of the bravest men any one could find; he had done magnificent work with his tank, and had knocked out many enemy machine gun nests. He was a fine representative of our Citizen Army, and his country has lost a real hero."
His Commanding Officer writes:- "He died in action, fighting the enemy and guiding his tank to its objective near Bapaume. The tank was struck right in front by a large calibre shell, and your son and the driver, occupying their usual seats, were instantly killed. His death is a great loss to the Battalion, for there were few officers who knew more about a tank than he."
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
LIEUTENANT W. H. BRASSINGTON
Tank Corps, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Brassington, Ribble View, Settle. Killed in action near Bapaume August 23rd, 1918.
22 August 1919
BRASSINGTON - In memory of my godson, Captain W. H. Brassington, of the Tank Corps, killed in action near Bapaume on August 25th, 1918.
"One more hero was added to our bravo dead."
J. H. Watts, Ingleboro. Southend.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
30 October 1914
A LINK WITH THE PAST
It is not generally known that an interesting link with England's past glories, both naval and military, resides in Giggleswick, in the person of a Mrs. Bulcock, who is probably the oldest inhabitant of the district. Her father, John Mason, who is buried in Giggleswick Churchyard, not only fought aboard the 'Victory' with Nelson at Trafalgar, but he was present at the Battle of Waterloo, retiring from the service in 1815, after 21 years' service, living to the ripe age of 78. He fired the cannon from Castleberg, Settle, on the Coronation of Queen Victoria, and again on the opening of the Skipton to Lancaster Railway.
Mrs. Bulcock has now three grandsons with our forces, one in the South African Mounted Police, following his father, who fought in the Boer War. The other two grandsons, John Hartley Bulcock and William Brassington, of Giggleswick and Settle respectively, are now at Riby awaiting orders for the front.
01 December 1916
A SETTLE MILITARY MEDAL WINNER
The name of Sergt. W.H. Brassington, of the 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, appeared in the list of recipients of the Military Medal, published on Monday, November 13th. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Brassington, Ribble View, Settle. He joined almost immediately after the outbreak of war the Settle Territorials, and went with them to France in April 1915, where he has since seen much fighting. In August last, Sergt. Brassington was sent back to train for a commission, and has since been in training at Gailes and Bisley.
06 September 1918
Lieut. Brassington (Settle) Killed
Lieut. W.H. Brassington, of the Tank Corps, who was killed in action near Bapaume on August 25th, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs. T.W. Brassington, Ribble View, Settle. After leaving Giggleswick School he entered the firm at Messrs. Brassington, Sons and Co., Ltd., builders and contractors. On the outbreak of war he was one of the first in this neighbourhood to volunteer, and as a private joined the 1st 6th Duke of Wellington's on Sept. 9th, 1914. After six months' training he was drafted to France in April, 1915, and remained there until July, 1916, during which time he was promoted. first to corporal and then to sergeant, and his name appeared in the London 'Gazette' for Nov. 12th, 1916, amongst the Military Medallists. He was then recommended for a commission and was sent to an officers' training camp, and was in due course gazetted second lieutenant on Dec. 7th, 1916, in the Machine Gun Corps. Soon after he transferred to the Tank Corps, and went into further training at Bovington Camp until June, 1917, when he went across to France, where he was until be met with his death. His captain writes: - "Early this morning he started off, one of the bravest men anyone could find; he had done magnificent work with his tank, and had knocked out many enemy machine gun nests. He was a fine representative of our Citizen Army, and his country has lost a real hero." His commanding officer writes:- "He died in fighting the enemy and guiding his tank to its objective near Bapaume. The tank was struck right in front by a large calibre shell, and your son and the driver were instantly killed. His death is a great loss to the battalion, for there were few officers who knew more about a tank than he."
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