CHARLES BROCKLEHURST 

EARLY LIFE

Charles Brocklehurst was born as Charles Reed/Read in late 1872 and baptised on 20 January 1876 at St Peter's Church, Windmill St, Macclesfield, the son of Elizabeth Reed of Chestergate. Four days later, Elizabeth Reed and Joseph Brocklehurst, a builder of 5 Great King Street, Macclesfield, were married at the same church. By 1881, Joseph had died and six-year-old Charles was living at 65 Derby Street, Macclesfield with his widowed mother, a mangle-woman, half-siblings John (21) and Joseph (20), and siblings Mary Ann (4) and Robert (2).

On 28 March 1891 Charles joined the Royal Lancaster Regiment with service number 3197. He stated that he was a labourer and was already serving with the local 4th Cheshire Regiment. Charles was transferred to the Army Reserve on 28th March 1898, after having served for the statutory seven years.

Charles was recalled to the Army on 13 November 1899 and served in the South African wars from 2 December 1899 until 20 October 1900; he stated that his next of kin were his mother Elizabeth, of 54 Derby Street, Macclesfield, brothers Thomas and Robert and sister Mary Ann. Charles was finally discharged from the Army on 27 March 1903, having been awarded the Queens South Africa Medal and Clasps for Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Laing's Nek.

By 1901, Charles was employed as a night soil labourer and living with his mother at 2 Court 7, Shaw Street, Macclesfield.

On 24 July 1903 Charles rejoined the Army for a period of four years, rejoining the Royal Lancaster Regiment with the same service number, 3197. He stated that he was unmarried, and his next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Brocklehurst, of 14 Arbourhay Street, Hurdsfield.

Charles married Charlotte Devenport at St Paul's Church, Macclesfield on 5 October 1903, stating that he was a labourer and lived at 16 Buke St, off Mills Croft, Macclesfield. By 1911 the couple were living at 10 Buke Street but had no children, and Charles was working as a timber merchant.

Charles' mother later lived at Derby St, Macclesfield; his wife lived at 3 Waterside, Macclesfield.

 

WW1 SERVICE

Charles again joined the Royal Lancaster Regiment on 20 August 1914, soon after the start of the war, with service number 3881, and was drafted to France on 27 December the same year.

Two years later, on 17 December 1916, Private Brocklehurst received a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was treated at the 10th Field Ambulance station in the area of Albert, France, but died of his wounds on the same day at the age of 44.

 

COMMEMORATION

Private Charles Brocklehurst is buried in Grave Ref. IV. H. 10. in the Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, Somme, France. His widow asked for the words "19 years service. Till we meet, warrior husband, sweetly sleep" to be inscribed on his headstone.

In Macclesfield, Private Charles Brocklehurst is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, and St Michael's Church war memorials.

 

SOURCES

GRO (England & Wales) Index: Marriages, Deaths

Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers: St Peter's Church, Macclesfield

Cheshire Parish Marriage Registers: St Peter’s Church, Macclesfield

Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1901, 1911

National School Admission Registers and Log-books (FindMyPast):St George’s School, Macclesfield Technical School

WWI British Army Medal Rolls Index Cards (Ancestry)

WWI British Army Service Records 1914-1920 (Find My Past)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

Macclesfield Times: 23 September 1921 (photo)


Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.