Gilbert Graham Bracey
Memorial: Downend - Christ Church
Regiment: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 20662
Parents: Evan and Emma Jane Bracey (nee Hayes)
Marital status: Married
Home address: Hawkins Lane, Staple Hill, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: House Painter
Date of birth: 03/12/1891
Place of birth: Pleasant Road, Staple Hill, Bristol
Date of death: 28/02/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 11. D.), Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France
Age: 25
Further information:
Gilbert Graham Bracey was the third oldest of eight children born to Evan and Emma Bracey. He was baptised on 2nd February 1892 at the Hebron Methodist Church, Staple Hill and married Annie L Tanner in 1913. Enlisting on 28th December 1916 he first served as Private 21892 in the 8th (Service) Battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) before being taken on the strength of the 1st/4th Battalion. The first three months of 1917 were spent in the Somme area with the occasional raid and spell of trench duty until on the 4th April they received orders to take the three villages of Ronssoy, Basse Boulogne and Lempire where they lost a number of Officers and Other Ranks including Private Bracey on 28th February. The Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that Private Bracey possessed £2.6s.8d which was sent to his widow Annie on 12th June 1917; a War Gratuity of £3.0s.0d was also to her sent on 3rd November 1919.
Also commemorated on the Christ Church Downend and the Staple Hill Methodist Church Memorials.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Forces War Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Soldiers Died In The Great War, Find A Grave index, Free BMD, Register of Soldiers' Effects, Medal Rolls Index Card, UK Censuses, David Blackmore – Mangotsfield Residents Association