William John Brain

Memorial: Iron Acton - St James the Less Church

Regiment: Grenadier Guards

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Private 20138

Parents: James and Mary Ann Brain

Home address: Chain Gate Road, Iron Acton, Bristol

Date of birth: 1896

Place of birth: Iron Acton, Bristol

Date of death: 13/04/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Ploegsteert Memorial (Panel 1.), Belgium

Age: 22

Further information:

William John Brain, son of James (a coal hewer) and Mary Ann Brain of Chaingate Lane

William was serving with the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards when he died on 13th April 1918 aged 22 and is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial. William died during the stand of the 4th Guards Brigade against the German Spring Offensive on the 12th and 13th April 1918. The Battalion was ordered to fight to the last man in an attempt to stop the Germans and after three days and nights without rest they had suffered 90% casualties, some 504 men. Only two officers of the nineteen who went into action, the Commanding Officer and Adjutant, were not casualties

William John Brain is also remembered on the Chipping Sodbury and District War Memorial Cottage Hospital board, now at Yate and District Heritage Centre under Iron Acton

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Yate and District Heritage Centre, Forces War Records and CWGC