1541 RIFLEMAN A. BRIERLEY. W.Y.R.

 

Arthur Brierley was born on 3 January 1895 and baptised at Hunslet St Jude’s on 20 February.  His father was Edward Brierley (b. 1865 in Saddleworth) a foreman rigger in a steel forge.  His mother was Clara Furniss (b. 1864 in Leeds).  Edward moved from Saddleworth to Hunslet in the 1880s and he and Clara married in 1889 and had 4 children, three of whom survived infancy:  Mary Emma (b. 1892), Arthur and Elsie (b. 1900).  

 

In 1911, Arthur was living with his parents at Hunslet and working as a cutler.  He enlisted with the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) and was posted to 1/7 Battalion, with whom he served as a rifleman.  They landed in France on 15 April 1915.  A month later on 15 May the Battalion became part of 146th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division.  In 1915, they took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge (9 May), and were involved in the defence against the first phosgene gas attack (19 December).  

 

In 1916 the Division took part in the Battle of the Somme and Arthur was killed near Thiepval during the opening days of the Battle of Albert.  He was killed on 2 July 1916, he was 21 years old.  17 men from his Battalion lost their lives that day.

 

Rank:  Rifleman

Service No:  1541

Date of Death:  02/07/1916

Regiment/Service:  West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), 1st/7th Bn.

Grave Reference:  II. L. 2.

Cemetery:  CONNAUGHT CEMETERY, THIEPVAL

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