Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Bramwell was born at Springwell, Gateshead in 1890 the youngest of 4 sons and 5 daughters, (1 deceased gender unknown), born to Joseph Bramwell 1850 and Jane Thompson 1855, both natives of Springwell. They were married in the district of Gateshead in 1872. At the time of John’s birth the family were living at 145, Askew Road West, Gateshead, his father employed as a general labourer. They remained in the area, in 1911, John aged 19 years was working as a labourer at the gas works at Teams as was his father as a fireman. July 22nd 1912 he was married at the Registry Office, Gateshead to Isabella Sutherland and moved to Heworth. His wife gave birth to their son John Jnr, July 2nd 1914.
Leaving his place of employment, he enlisted at Gateshead, September 2nd 1914, assigned to the Durham Light infantry but transferred the following day under Recruiting Regulations to the 7th Battalion Border Regiment as Private 18397, one of Kitchener’s Second New Army, attached to 51st Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. They trained at Andover and moved to Bovington in January 1915 and then to Winchester in June. He was drafted with the regiment to France, July 14th 1915, landing at Boulogne. The Division concentrated near St Omer and and underwent trench familiarisation before taking over a section of front line in the Southern part of the Ypres salient. August 18th 1915 his wife as next of kin was informed he had been wounded, fully recovered he returned to his unit until awarded leave from November 9-15th. In the Spring of 1916 the battalion was in action near the Bluff on the Commines Canal, south east of Ypres, then moved to the Somme and saw action in the Battle of Albert where the Division captured Fricourt, and participated during the Battle of Delville Wood. In February 1917, he was again given leave prior to the regiment going into action at the Battle of Arras.
Private 18397 John Bramwell Border Regiment was reported missing as of April 23rd 1917 and later this date was adopted as the official date of his demise. He was 26 years old and his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 34,785 names of servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand inscribed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, commemorating those who died in the sector and have no known grave. The memorial stands within Faubourg D’Amiens British Cemetery, Arras, France.
His widow Isabella received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 2 children, as she gave birth to their second child 7 months after his demise, November 5th 1917, named Joseph in honour of his paternal grandfather. Her husband's awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to her after she had remarried, December 1918 in the district of Gateshead to John Plows at her home address of 2, Grange Terrace West, Heworth High Lanes, Gateshead, County Durham.
CWGC entry has incorrectly recorded the name of Private Bramwell’s mother as Jean.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Bramwell is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
