Name
Harry Brace
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
238080
Leicestershire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY
IV. A. 48.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth, Congregational Church Sawbridgeworth, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Harry appears to have been born on the 1st February 1899, in Sawbridgeworth, Herts.*1 and the son of Harry Brace, a Bricklayer, and Eliza Brace (Nee Mead). He was Baptised on the 5th May 1899, in Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
Harry was one of 10 children. The 1901 census records Harry, aged 2, as living with his parents, and sister Daisy in (Taylors Yard), Knight Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. and by 1911 Harry had 3 brothers and 2 sisters, all living at 112 Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. and then on to 50 Cambridge Road. He was living in Sawbridgeworth when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Formerly 5055 in the Hertfordshire Regiment.
Harry served with the 2nd/6th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), with the service No 260011, before joining the 6th Leicestershires.
On 21 – 22 August 1918, this unit was engaged in the crossing of the River Ancre under heavy machine gun fire. It is probable that Harry Brace was mortally wounded in this action. His death date is given as 9 September 1918, but the records show that he died of wounds received previously., aged 19.
Additional Information
The CWGC records confirm his parents as Harry and Eliza Brace, then living at 50 Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. *1 some sources indicate that he was actually born in West Ham, Essex.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Douglas Coe
