1141 PTE. T. BRIERLEY. MIDDX. REG.

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Thomas Brierley was born on 7 March 1888 in Ashton Under Lyne.  His father was Samuel Brierley (b. 1851 in Saddleworth), a stoker in a cotton mill.  His mother was Sarah Barratt (b. 1850 in Lees).  Sam died in 1898.  I haven’t found Thomas in the 1901 Census, but we know from his military records that in 1907, he married Annie Slattery (b. 1886 in Ashton).  They had a son, Thomas, in 1910 but he died before he was 2.  They then had three more sons: Harold (b. 1912), James (b. 1915) and Arthur (b. 1920).

 

Tom attested on 7 April 1915.  At the time, he was living at 102 Crickets Lane, Ashton Under Lyne.  He was assigned service no. 1141 and posted to the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment.  From his medal records, we know that he landed in France on 12 November 1915.  He was with the 18th (Service) Battalion (1st Public Works Pioneers), which came under command of 33rd Division.  This Division landed in France between 12 and 22 November 1915 and its first major engagement was at the Battle of Albert, the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme in 1916.  He was wounded in the thigh and the arm on 17 June 1916 and returned to England on 14 July 1916.  On 27 March 1917 he was transferred to 29th Battalion, which was at Thetford, in England, and he was eventually discharged on 18 June 1917. 

 

After the War, Tom worked as a carter/labourer for a coal merchant in Dukinfield.  In 1939, Tom and Annie were living at 5 Convent Yard, Ashton Under Lyne, with their youngest son, Arthur, who was then 19 and working as a piecer in a cotton mill.  Arthur joined the army in the Second World War.  He was 1803408 Bdr. Arthur Brierley, of 267 Bty., 69 Lt. A. A. Regt., Royal Artillery.  He was killed in action in Burma on 18 March 1944.

 

Tom Brierley died in Ashton on 25 June 1960.  His wife Annie died in 1966.