Name
Joseph Bilson Bracey
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/10/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33477
Hampshire Regiment
11th Bn.
“C” Coy
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ERQUELINNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
43.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THEY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS R.I.P.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Gosmore, Frimley and Camberley Great War Memorial
Pre War
Joseph Bilson Bracey was born in 1898, in Gosmore, near Hitchin, Herts, the son of Jesse Bracey (1867 – 1930) a Coachman and Clara Emily Bracey (1868 -1945) (nee Prior). One of four children Edward (B 1896), Maud (B 1900) and Alice (B 1910).
1901 Census records Joseph aged 3, living with his Parents, and two siblings, in Gosmore, St Ippolyts, Herts. 1911 Census has Joseph aged 13, working as a Domestic Gardener, living with his parents and three siblings, in Gosmore, St Ippolyts, Herts.
Wartime Service
Joseph enlisted in Wokingham, Berkshire, served initially in the Royal Berkshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 23881. Later he served in the 11th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 33477. Joseph was taken as Prisoner of War on 23rd March 1918, at Ste. Emilie, France. At the time he was with “C” Company, 11th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
He died of pneumonia on 30th October 1918, in a German War Hospital, he was buried by the German authorities in Grave 43 of the Erquelinnes Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
His headstone has the personal inscription requested by his mother “They rest from their labours. RIP”. His mother received a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week, commencing 12th August 1919. The value of his effects were £8-12s-19d, Pay Owing and £14, War Gratuity which went to his father Jesse Bracey.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
