William Brant Died 25th April 1917
William was the son of Ellen and Francis Brant. He was born in 1882 and was one of 9 children. The family lived in 1901 at Rose Gardens, Wokingham and father Francis was working as a carpenter. William was to see the loss of his beloved brother Henry in 1914; they both being in the same 1st Battalion of the Royal Berks.
In 1906 William married a Dublin girl, Mary Ann and there they had two children, William and Henry. After completing service in the army, he joined the Metropolitan Police Force and moved to Charlton, Kent, where they had a third child, Ada in 1910.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
William had been a regular soldier in the Army long before the war, eventually leaving to become a Metropolitan Policeman in Blackheath. When war was declared he was naturally re-called back into the army and became a Company Sergeant Major in the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.
The 1st were in the thick of the action right at the start of the war, from Le Mons to the Marne, from the First Battle of Ypres to Loos in 1915. It was at Loos where William was awarded the Croix De Guerre and later the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After Loos, the winter of 1915/16 was spent recuperating and the inevitable spells in trenches. They were preparing to join in the Battle of the Somme and their major action there was on the 27th July at Delville Wood. This time they lost 8 officers and 256 other ranks.
France awarded William the Croix De Guerre for his bravery at Loos.
They saw little more action until the 14th November when they attacked near Serre. After that they were withdrawn to a back area where they remained until the 4th Feb 1917 when a small party launched an attack at Courcelette and achieved the odd result of taking prisoner exactly the same numbers of German officers and of men that the party itself consisted of. Further attacks were made at Miraumont on the 15th Feb, and before the attack on Oppy Wood, William was killed on the 25th April. The fighting took place around the Arras region.
Military Historian John Chapman tells us: “The enemy shelled the front line throughout the 25th of April, 1917 killing CSM Brant, Lt Bacon and 6 other ranks. Lt Massey Finch and 6 more men were wounded. They evacuated the front line during the daytime on the 26th as the British heavy artillery was engaged in cutting wire. At 21:00 they were relieved by the 2nd HLI and returned to the old German front at Roclincourt. They were able to rest on the 27th.
Click to view 1911 Census record of William, his wife and three children
By the 1st May there was only enough men left to form two companies of 4 officers and 100 ORs each which was joined with the 23rd Royal Fusilers to form a composite battalion. At the end of a second action at Oppy on the 3rd May they were down to 2 officers, both wounded and 94 other ranks”.
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BRANT, WILLIAM
Rank: Company Serjeant Major
Service No:10330
Date of Death: 25/04/1917
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment 1st Bn.
Awards: D C M. Croix de Guerre (France).
Grave Reference II. G. 30.
Cemetery AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information: Brother of Mrs. E. Howe, of 21, Patrick Rd, Caversham, Reading.
1901: Rose Gardens, Wokingham
1911: High House, Charlton Road, Old Charlton Kent.
Granda