William James Brailsford was born in Pilsley near Chesterfield Derbyshire in 1889. His parents were William Brailsford (born Tupton near Chesterfield Derbyshire in 1846) and Mary nee Twelves (born Tibshelf Derbyshire in 1850). That couple had wed at St Lawrence Church North Wingfield Derbyshire in 1869.
The 1881 and 1891 censuses have William James’ family living on Back Lane Pilsley. Come the 1901 census, they were on Station Road there. In 1881 and 1891 William Brailsford senior was a Colliery Carpenter; in 1901 a Colliery Stationary Engine Driver Underground.
The three censuses combined confirm William James’ siblings to have been: Eliza Ann (born 1872); Fanny (1874); Mary Betsy (1878); Emma (1880); John Henry (1882); and Annie (1885). As with William James himself, all his siblings were Pilsley born. (John Henry Brailsford died in 1899 aged only 18).
William James Brailsford’s wedding was reported in the Derbyshire Times of 16 July 1910:-
“WEDDING – PILSLEY Brailsford-Stoddart"
“Pilsley St Mary church was crowded with interested onlookers, on Wednesday [13 July], on the marriage of a well known Pilsley couple. The contracting parties were Miss Jane Elizabeth Stoddart [aged 21] and Mr William James Brailsford [also 21], only [surviving] son of Mr and Mrs William Brailsford.”
“The duties of best man were ably discharged by Mr Harold Brown. The officiating minister was Rev. R M [Rowland Mark] Pitt, assistant curate at St Michael-at-Bowes, Middlesex.”
“Mr [William James] Brailsford is a member of the [St Marys] church choir, and the service was fully choral, the ‘Wedding March’ and other appropriate music being played on the organ by Mr Wm. Spencer.”
“In the afternoon the bridal party drove to Hardwick, and numerous friends and relatives were present at the reception held at the bride’s home.”
The recently-weds were found in the 1911 census living with William James’ parents at 45 Station Road, Pilsley. That census records William senior (now aged 65) as a Stationary Engineman Above Ground. And the 22-year-old William James as a Turner and Fitter Above Ground. Both were employed in a colliery.
William James and Jane Elizabeth had a daughter, Marjorie, who was born in 1913.
William James Brailsford’s service records have not survived. The publication ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War…..’ confirms that he enlisted in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, but does not say when. William James’ medal card is silent on when he entered a theatre of war.
The Derbyshire Times of 14 October 1916 reported on William James being invalided home, wounded:-
“Private William Brailsford, Grenadier Guards, whose home is in Station Road, Pilsley, has been sent to England with gun shot wounds in the shoulder hip and both arms.”
“Prior to joining the army he was employed at Pilsley Colliery as a fitter, and was at one time organist at Hartstoft church. He has also been in the choir at Pilsley church.”
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s website records that Lance Corporal William James Brailsford died on 24 March 1918, when he would have been 29. He left a 29-year-old widow and a 4-year-old daughter.
His remains are buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, just south of the town of Souchez and 11.4 kilometres north of the centre of Arras, Pas de Calais, France.
He is also commemorated on a memorial plaque mounted within the lychgate at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Pilsley, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
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