Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Edwin Brewis was born at Felling, near Gateshead, County Durham in 1887, the eldest surviving son sof 7 children of whom only 4 survived, 2 sons and 2 daughters. His father Edwin Brewis was born at Felling, mother Isabella Dawson at Greenside, County Durham, both were born in 1862., they married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1884. Prior to his marriage he was living at 2 Old Ford Road, Gateshead, he can be found with his wife and children at 16, Pensher Street, working as a coal miner in 1891. Records then jump to 1911 by which time they had moved to 8, Elliot Street, Felling. Only Dora (19) and Thomas (16) were still living at home. She was employed as a sewing machinist her brother worked as a miner.
William Edwin was married in 1906 to Margaret Garrett also born at Gateshead in 1887 and with whom by 1911 he had 3 children, Edwin born 1907, Florence in 1909 and Isabella in 1910, they were living at 19, Heworth Street, Felling, where he was employed at the colliery as a stoneman.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Newburn-on-Tyne, Northumberland and was assigned as Private 13952 to the 14th (Pioneers) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers raised at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 1914 part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. As a pioneer battalion they were attached to the 21st Division concentrating in the Tring area and training at Halton Park moving to billets in Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Wycombe and Maidenhead for the winter. May 1915 they were moved to newly built huts at Halton Park in Buckinghamshire which had been offered to the War Office by Alfred de Rothschild for use as a training camp complete with trenches and a firing range, all entirely financed by him. August 9th they were moved to Whiley Camp and Private Brewis embarked for France, aboard the S.S. Mona’s Queen, September 8th departing at 8.30 p.m. arriving September 9th 1915 at 4.45 a.m.
Once arrived the battalion was marched across France going into reserve for the British assault at Loos, September 26th 1915, where they sustained heavy casualties. They remained on the Western Front for the duration of the war.
Private 13952 William Edwin Brewis died March 31st 1916 in what is described by the Army as an, “accident”. He is at rest at Caestre Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave II. A. 2. He was 29 years old.
At the time of his departure his fourrth child, a daughter Dora, was an infant, born during the 2nd quarter (Ap/May/Jun) 1915, unless he was given leave prior to his departure he would never have known Dora and given her age she would have had no recollection of her father.
His widow received all monies due to him along with his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at her new address at Blaydon as Margaret had remarried in 1918 Joseph Armstrong at Castle Ward, Morpeth, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/4/1916:
"Private William E. Brewis, accidentally killed on March 31st, aged 29 years. Husband of Margaret Brewis of Blaydon (late of Felling) and son of Edwin and Isabella Brewis, of 8 Elliot Street, Felling."
William Edwin Brewis is remembered at Blaydon onB111.01 and B111.14
