An article in the ‘Huddersfield Daily Examiner’ of 13 November 1993 identifies 6015 Private Richard Brotherton of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards as having been a Constable in the Huddersfield Borough Police.

Richard Brotherton was born in Lincoln in 1881, to Richard Brotherton (born Boston, Lincolnshire 1849) and Betsey Brotherton nee Graves (born New Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire 1849). Richard senior and Betsey had married in Lincoln in 1875.

The 1901 census found the 20-year-old Richard Brotherton living with his parents and siblings at 60 Arboretum Avenue, St Swithin, Lincoln. That census shows Richard’s father employed as a Rough Fitter, and Richard himself as a Police Constable.

On 24 May 1908 at the church of All Saints Lincoln, Richard Brotherton wed Fanny nee Brown (born Caistor Lincolnshire 1880).

The 1911 census located Richard and Fanny Brotherton, husband and wife, living at 2 King Street, Lindley, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, with Richard again employed as a Police Constable. (The couple do not appear ever to have had children).

Richard Brotherton had been a full-time professional soldier in the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. ‘British Army, Coldstream Guards 1800-1981’ records show that he was allocated service number 6015 when, aged 23 years and 1 month, he attested on 17 January 1905. His Lincoln birthplace is confirmed, as is “Policemen” as his civilian employment, with the date and place of his wedding to Fanny nee Brown added later.

The 13 November 1993 ‘Huddersfield Daily Examiner’ article records that Richard re-enlisted with the 1st Coldstream Guards at the outbreak of the Great War.

His Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry confirms that Richard Brotherton died on 29 October 1914 (when he would have been aged 33) and that his name is engraved on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, for the Missing of the Ypres Salient. It may be relevant that Richard fell at the time of the First Battle of Ypres, which ran from 19 October to 22 November 1914.

Richard Brotherton’s World War I related service records have not survived. But there are two Red Cross documents, in French, definitely referring to 6015 Private Richard Brotherton of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, that report him as taken prisoner of war, and record that his wife was so informed, giving Fanny Brotherton’s address as 8 Fairfield Street, Monks Road, Lincoln. One is dated 17 May 1915. The most probable explanation for this would appear to be that it was not then certain that Richard had in fact gone missing - presumed dead on the Ypres battlefield since over six months before.