IWM Collections

BRADDICK, HENRY JAMES Rank:………………………………….Rifleman Service No:………………………….653293 Date of Death:………………………08/10/1916 Age:…………………………………..22 Regiment:……………………………London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), 1st/21st Bn. Panel Reference……………………Pier and Face 13 C. Memorial……………………………..THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Mrs. H. L. Braddick, of 4, Mawbey St., South Lambeth, London. CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/767249/BRADDICK,%20HE... Soldiers who Died in the Great War records him as born Clapham and resident South Lambeth. He was soldier 653292 London Regiment. The Medal Index card for Private 653293 Henry J Braddick, 21st London Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/3/27642 . He had previously been Private 6821 in the same unit. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D1... Census On the 1901 census the 6 year old Henry J, born Lambeth, was recorded at 41 Dawlish Street, Lambeth. This was the household of his parents, Henry J, (aged 38 and a Railway Horsekeeper from Honiton, Devon) and Harriet L, (aged 34 and from Lambeth). As well as young Henry, their other children are:- Albert A…………………….aged 5…………born Lambeth Ernest W…………………..aged 4……….born Lambeth. Also living with them is Henrys widowed paternal Grandmother, Mary L Braddick, (aged 69 and from Honiton, Devon) and one of his cousins, Annie Braddick, (aged 7 and from Lambeth). The Braddicks appear to have disappeared completely from the 1911 census. On the day Sunday 8th October 1916. Day 100 Eaucourt L’Abbaye 1/21st and 1/22nd Bns, London Regt (142 Bde, 47th Div) unsuccessfully attacked Snag Trench. 1/22nd Bn did manage to establish posts on the Eaucourt L’Abbaye to Warlencourt road, linking with 23rd forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?9058-The-Som... On the 8th October the Battalion were in rough trenches immediately North of the monastery of Eaucort L'Abbaye the 24th Londons were on the right of the Battalion and the 23rd Londons on the Left. The original plan was to make a surprise attack on the German positions but this was changed at the last minute and a heavy bombardment preceeded the assault. As a result, the Germans were fully alert and resistance was strong. The battalion only managed to move forward by 200 -300 yards and was forced to "dig in" and wait for more favourable conditions. However, they were relieved by the 1st South African brigade on the 9th October and the Battalion moved back to rest positions at Mametz Wood. 1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34549

I've found them in the 1911. It's horribly transcribed! They were by then at 37 Dawlish Street in Lambeth, and Louisa, by now a widow, is living with the three boys and her mother. Henry was a builder's clerk. Henry was born on July 2nd and baptised on August 9th 1894 at St. Barnabus in Lambeth. There was another brother, Leonard, but he died as a baby. 1911 Census supports that. SDitGW also states that he was formerly 2752, East Surrey Regt.

rosyjess Thanks for tracking them down - I was beginning to wonder if I had the wrong Henry and the family I'd found on the 1901 census had emigrated :-)

Henry is my 1st cousin 3x removed. His mum Harriet Louisa Braddick (nee Lovelock) is my 2nd great grand aunt. Harriet married a Henry James braddick on 2nd July 1893 in Lambeth.

At the time of the 1911 census he was a scholar at the United Services College in Windsor which confirms his place of birth as Aldershot. The DSO database for the college states he was the son of Major General SS Long www.haileybury.com/medals/dso USC.htm Selden Herbert Long was named as the sole executor of the estate of Sidney Selden Long when he died on 31st January 1940.
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34864/pages/3386/page.pdf

His Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate states that he was born 6th Oct 1895. His certificate was taken on Maurice Farham Biplane at the Military School, Brooklands on 25th January 1915. At that time he was a 2nd Lieut in the Durham Light Infantry. His address was given as 136 Shooter's Hill, Blackheath.
His Wikipedia entry refers to the MC citation:

Before ever scoring an aerial victory, he won the Military Cross (gazetted on 29 October 1915). The citation to the MC tells the tale:

"For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably the following: —

"On 10 September 1915, he went out to attack an observation balloon shed with a 100-lb. bomb, but, being heavily fired at by an anti-aircraft battery, he silenced the guns with this bomb and returned for another one, with which he attacked the balloon. He only narrowly missed it as it was being deflated beside the shed.

"On 23 September he made two determined attacks on trains from 500 feet, breaking the rails in two places. On the first occasion he returned to the attack three times, and finally climbed to 1,000 feet in order to make better use of his bomb sight; on the second occasion he made most of his return journey at 1,000 feet in order better to examine villages, roads, etc.

"On 25 September he attacked a train at 500 feet under heavy rifle fire, and damaged the line. Late in the afternoon of 25 September he heard that trains were moving at 25 miles distance, and, in spite of darkness and bad weather, he volunteered to attack them. Heavy rain prevented his reaching them, so he turned to attack Peronne station, descending to 500 feet and coming under heavy anti-aircraft gun fire. This fire prevented his reaching the station, but he climbed to 1,500 feet and attacked a "Rocket" battery, silencing one of its guns."

The National Probate Calendar shows that he died on 12th December 1952 at Tamboers-Kloof Nursing Home In Cape Town, South Africa. His address in London was given as The International Sportsmens Club, Upper Grosvenor Road. Probate was granted to Marion Beatrice Long.

He also received the DSO
For great skill and daring in piloting his machine. He shot down an enemy machine, which fell in our lines, and the same day he forced another hostile machine to land in the enemy's lines. Later, he shot down another enemy machine, which fell in our lines.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 March 1917 (29981/2476)

His 9 aerial victories, (4 of them shared), are listed here:-
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/long.php

The first, in August 1916, was with 29 Squadron. All the rest were with 24 Squadron and came between November 1916 and April 1917.
All came while flying a DH2 - those with 24 Squadron all while flying the same plane, (A305)

According to the biographical notes in Above The Trenches, he commanded a squadron in the United Kingdom but managed to obtain a posting back to France and joined No 46 Squadron as a flight commander on 5 July 1917. He was made acting Commanding Officer in August but by the end of the month had been posted to command No 28 Training Squadron. He later commanded No 111 Squadron in Palestine.
www.theaerodrome.com/forum/5875-post7.html

From Page 51 of Pusher Aces of World War One by John Guttman
"That same day (25th January 1917), Captain Selden Long downed an LVG from Flt Abt (A)216 in flames between Baupaume and and Clery, its crewman Ltns d R Ernst Erdmann and Gunter Kallenbach, jumping to their deaths. Long destroyed another two seater near Baupaume 48 hours later, kiling Vzfw Willy Lang and Ltn Kurt Brandt of Flt (A) 233.
books.google.co.uk/books?id=is-ij4XZRTIC&pg=PA51&...

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Posted to No.28 Training Squadron, Castle Bromwich on 28/8/17 as Acting Squadron Commander. In that capacity he gave evidence at Coroner's Inquiries into two training fatalities which occurred while he was there. Posted to RFC Middle East on 2/1/18 embarking on 8/1/18. National Archive and other sources are as follows. Air1/369/15/231/9 & Air1/11/15/1/38 & C. Thornton - Warwickshire Coroner's Docs. & G.V.L. Lewis - Birmingham Coroner's Docs. & Air 76 & Erdington News 13/10/17

I believe the title of his book was actually "In the Blue", not "Into the Blue".

CWGC details Name: BUTLER, EDWARD LIONEL AUSTIN Initials: E L A Nationality: Australian Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 12th Bn. Date of Death: 23/08/1916 Additional information: Son of Edward Henry and Fanny Amy Butler, of Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 10. Cemetery: PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=510923 Grave Marker can be viewed here twgpp.org/information.php?id=2043905

Descendant of Gamaliel Butler? Yes Known as Leo, b. 10/04/1883, d. 23/08/1916. Fourth generation in family law firm, Butler, MacIntyre and Butler, apparently played first class cricket for Tasmania. A memorial window was erected at St Davids Cathedral, Hobart. Dedicated to his memory on 16/08/1917. next of kin E.H. (Edward Henry) Butler (Father), Solicitor, Hobart. b1851, d1928. Mother - Fanny Amy Butler nee Clerk. Brother - Angus Leicester Butler, b1885, d1965 (wife Marjorie nee Ellis) no children. A cousin of my Gran. www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/pozieres-windmill/aif-memorial...

Leo may have seen the same trenches as my Grandfather's brother!

Although in different Battalions, they moved backwards and forwards gaining ground, then loosing it again, with sometimes heavy loss of life on both sides, for a war that Paul Baumer in "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Remarque, could not see the point of!

See images of the gravesites at PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY here..
www.flickr.com/photos/spelio/6921297040/in/photostream/

www.flickr.com/photos/hwmobs/9757832354/

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/