Thomas Reece Brabban, one of 9 children was the eldest of 4 sons, he had 3 elder and 2 younger sisters. His father Martin Brabban born 1854 at Tudhoe, Spennymoor, and mother Mary Ann Reece of Consett, born 1852, both in County Durham, were married in 1876 in the district of Durham. Daughter Sarah Ann was born 1879 and Margaret Jane in 1880 while they were living at 63, Upper Church Street, Tudhoe Colliery, where Martin was employed as a coal miner, unfortunately Margaret Jane died in 1883. Ten years later they were still at the same address and Mary Ann had given birth to a further 5 children, Elizabeth Jane 1882, Thomas Reece 1884, William 1886, Susannah 1889 and Nicholas, September 10th 1890. Their youngest children George and Margaret Hilda were born 1893 and June 10th 1896 respectively. By 1901 Martin was still employed at the colliery as a shifter below ground, Sara Ann (22) was an assistant elementary school teacher, Thomas Reece (17) a machine fitter’s apprentice and William (14) a grocer’s apprentice, he was fully qualified by 1911. William’s elder siblings were married by 1911, his brothers Nicholas (20) and George (18) had joined their father at the colliery employed as putters, Elizabeth Jane and Margaret Hilda assisted their mother at home.

Thomas Reece Brabban marred at Spennymoor, County Durham, June 27th 1906 to local girl Louisa Wilson born February 5th 1887 and with whom by 1911 he had 2 children, Charles Wilson Brabban born February 17th 1907 and George February 4th 1909. Living in 3 rooms at 32, Craddock Street, Spennymoor, in 1911 Thomas was employed at the colliery as a coal hewer working underground, their daughter Doris was born, July 9th 1913.

Their address of Craddock Street was given by Thomas at the time of his enlistment at Spennymoor, January 16th 1915. He was posted as Private 49790 to Sunderland as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps and transferred to the 54th Field Ambulance, June 12th 1915. He departed for the front in France, September 20th 1915 until July 1st 1917 when he transferred to Salonica. Private Brabban contracted malaria and repatriated to England was posted as Private 563615 to the Labour Corps, Class Z Army Reserve, January 26th 1919. The subsequent disability from which he suffered was attributed to the malaria and his war service for which he received a pension of 8 shillings 3 pence a week to be reviewed in 39 weeks plus 4 shillings 9 pence for his 3 children as of February 24th 1919. Class Z allowed him to return to his family and employment, however he was under the obligation to return to service if hostilities with Germany resumed. With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919 WW1 was officially brought to a close and Class Z was abolished.

Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Thomas and Louisa’s youngest child, Mary Louisa Brabban was born at Spennymoor, January 27th 1920. Between 1920 and 1939 they had moved to Surrey where in 1939 they occupied 22 Thrubbs Avenue, Borough of Walton and Weybridge. Thomas was employed at a transformer painter and hospital trained…illegible.

Thomas Brabban died aged 81 years in 1965, Louisa Brabban nee Wilson in 1966 aged 79 years and their son Charles Wilson Brabban in 2000 aged 93 years, all registered in the district of Surrey Northern.

Their daughter Mary Louisa Brabban married in the district of Surrey North Western in 1940 to Ronald William Ernest Richardson born January 10th 1918 at Westhampnett, Surrey. They emigrated and to America. Ronald William Ernest died, October 29th 1991 at Haines City, Florida aged 73 years, his widow Mary Louisa Richardson nee Brabban aged 82 years, October 9th 2002 at Punta Gords, Charlotte, Florida and is at rest within Restlawn Memorial Garden, Port Charlotte, Florida, U.S.A.

Details as regards George and Doris Brabban, unknown.

Thomas’s three brothers were eligible to serve during WW1, however, only the records of his brothers William Brabban who died in Belgium in 1917 and younger brother George Brabban have been found.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Thomas Reece Brabban is remembered at Spennymoor on S131.17