Sapper William Abbott Brudenell
1147 1/1st & 3/1st West Riding Division, Signal Company, Royal Engineers (Territorials)
530294 No 43 (Essex) A.A. Company, Royal Engineers (Territorials)
532094 Royal Engineers (London Electrical Engineers) (Territorials)
William Abbot Brudenell was born in 1884 at Westwood, Notts, son of William Brudenell a blacksmith’s striker (later a colliery fitter) and Elizabeth Brudenell (nee Abbott). William’s father was born in Warmington, Northants and his mother was born in Ironville. In 1901 the family was living at Pye Hill and in 1911 at Albert Avenue, Jacksdale.
William enlisted for war service on 14th September 1914 at Sheffield, aged 29. His height was noted as 5′ 4″ and his next of kin was his mother Mrs E. Brudenell of Albert Avenue, Jacksdale. He gave his religion as Church of England and his civilian occupation as bricklayer foreman and his employer as Osman & Co, Ironville.
William served in France and Belgium, arriving in France on 13th April 1915. He served as a linesman with a Signals Company of the Royal Engineers. On 19th December 1915 he was gassed and a few days later, on Christmas Eve, he was transported back to England aboard Hospital Ship Brighton for treatment at Brook Hospital, Woolwich.
Photo: HMHS Brighton
Despite being gassed and also suffering from rheumatism, he continued to serve. In 1916 he was transferred to the 3/1st and based in Yorkshire (Hillsborough, Otley and Biggleswade before being transferred to No. 43 (Essex) A.A. Company, R.E.(T) on 1st November 1916. In June 1917 he passed an Army trade test being recognised as a ‘skilled bricklayer.’ On 22nd November 1918 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (London Electrical Engineers). In January 1919 he was medically examined in London and found to be 20% disabled which was attributed to his service. It was also noted that his medical condition was not ‘in a final stationary condition’ and it was recommended that he be re-examined in a year’s time. He was discharged on to ‘Z’ Reserve on 12th February 1919. William was a recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.
William was listed on the Absent Voters Roll 1918/1919. His brothers Ernest Edward, Arthur, and James also served.