Blackmore. Remembrance 100. Twenty-one days. Twenty-one names. (2) Walter Brazier

Walter Brazier

War Memorial: Place and inscription Blackmore War Memorial: Stoker W Brazier R.N. Church Window: Walter Brazier Ongar & District War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour (Blackmore) [ERO A10815]

Rank: Stoker

Regiment: 1st Class Royal Navy.  H.M.S. "Laertes.".  Service No: 311704 [CWGC]

Service Details: -

Personal and family information: Walter Brazier’s name appears in the St Laurence, Blackmore ‘Sunday School Admission Register’ with “age” recorded as “19/11/85”.  [ERO D/P 266/28] Walter Brazier was born in Highwood in 1885/6, the son of Walter and Sarah Brazier. The following parish registers were checked for a baptism without success: Blackmore, Highwood, Roxwell, Writtle, Mountnessing. 1901 Census. Fingrith Hall Road, Blackmore Walter Brazier. Head. Married. [Age] 40. [Occupation] Pitman (gravel). [Born] Chelmsford Sarah Brazier.  Wife. Married. [Age] 39. [Born] Ingrave Walter Brazier.  Son.  [Age] 15.  [Born]: Highwood Florence Brazier.  Dau.  [Age] 11.  [Born] Mountnessing Mary Brazier.  Dau.  [Age] 9.  [Born] Blackmore Samuel Brazier.  Son.  [Age] 6.  [Born] Blackmore Joseph Brazier.  Son  [Age] 3.  [Born] Blackmore Laura Brazier.  Dau.  [Age] 1.  [Born] Blackmore 1914 Electoral Roll. Walter Brazier recorded as living at “High house” [ERO C/E 1/2/26] Florence Brazier married Ernest John Wager, named as one who served on the War Memorial.  Likewise Samuel Brazier, who returned. [Barbara Dawes, 3.11.18]

Date of Death: 28th August 1914 [CWGC}

Age: 29

Where died: Laertes became part of the 3rd destroyer flotilla based at Harwich.  She took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28th August 1914, where she was seriously damaged suffering four shell strikes. The most serious struck the boiler room, killing Walter Brazier and one other, temporarily cutting off all steam supplies to the engines and leaving the ship motionless. Another shot destroyed the middle funnel, while a gun was also hit. The ship managed to restore some power but had to be towed back to England.

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Memorial Reference: R.N. Plot. 5. Cemetery: Shotley (St. Mary) Churchyard

List of Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office.

Barbara Dawes wrote on the Blackmore Memories Facebook page: "My gt-uncle, his sister Florence was my Nan. He actually died on the first day of the very first naval battle of WW1, which somehow seems even more tragic, hardly had a chance to serve. What a waste."