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Remembered Today:

Captain William Stead Brayshay ASC attd. RFC


John Beech

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Afternoon All

I am currently researching the North Midland Divisional Train (46th Divisional Train) and have come across mention in the War Diary that a Captain Brayshay joined No.4 Company of the Train from the 2nd/1st North Midland Divisional Train (59th Divisional Train) on 20th October 1915. I have been able to confirm that this was Captain William Stead Brayshay.

William Stead Brayshay was born in Birmingham in the second quarter of 1887 to Arthur Edwin and Elizabeth Brayshay and initially joined up as a private in the 14th (Service) Battalion, (1st Birmingham Pals), Royal Warwickshire Regiment in August 1914. TheLG confirms that he was commissioned directly to Captain in the North Midland Divisional Train on 18th November 1914

The LG also shows that 'Captain W S Brayshay ASC (T.F) transferred to the RFC effective 5th April 1917 with seniority from 10th January 1917'.

An old post on the Forum shows that he was shot down on 6th April 1917 along with Second Lieutenant James Edward Blake, by Oberleutnant Hans Bethge of Ja30, whilst flying in a Sopwith Strutter no. 7806. He is listed on the CWGC as serving with 45 Squadron and ASC. They appear to have been initially reported as missing and there is a mention in Flight Magazine of 13th December 1917 that his death had now been accepted as of 6th April. Blake is listed on the CWGC as a pilot, so am I right in assuming that Captain Brayshay was an observer? They are both buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension.

The British Legion Every Man Remembered page for him shows him wearing in uniform with ASC badges.

I am looking for any information relating to his transfer to the RFC particularly as he seems to have only served a very short time before his death

Regards

John Beech

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  • 2 years later...
  • 3 months later...

From his Active Service Casualty Form come the following dates which may help you:

 

Captain William Stead Brayshay ASC (T) was transferred to Home Establishment for 1 month on 10/01/1917

He re-embarked to France on 15/02/1917

He was attached to 45 Squadron (based at St-Marie-Cappel and operating Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters) as an observer on 17/02/1917

He went on a one week course at the Aerial Musketry Range on 10/03/1917

He returned to 45 Squadron on 17/03/1917

He was in one of three Sopwith Strutters of 45 Squadron that left on a reconnaissance mission around Lille at 09:10 on the morning of 06/04/1917. Two of these aircraft were destroyed (most likely in a collision at 10,000 feet ) and William Brayshay's aircraft was shot down (you already have the details). It was a bad day for 45 Squadron as all six crew members were either killed outright or died of their wounds. Though William Brayshay and his pilot were initially listed as 'Missing in Action', it was eventually (August 1917) assumed that both men had in fact been killed on 06/04/1917.

 

Steve

 

 

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Many thanks Starlight

 

This research has been put to one side whilst I have been doing an MA at University, but once dissertation written will be back onto this.

 

Regards

 

John

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  • 2 years later...

A memorial stone for William Stead Brayshay in St Mary's Churchyard, Moseley, Birmingham, has him serving in the North Midland Army Service and Royal Flying Corps.

"In memory of the mortal body and living spirit of Captain William Stead Brayshay of North Midland Army Service and Royal Flying Corps who went down in his country's service Good Friday 6th April 1917 in a battle plane over the German lines in Belgium. Born 29th April 1887 son of Arthur Edwin and Elizabeth Brayshay."

IMG_8363 (3).JPG

Edited by BereniceUK
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A little more... courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.

Edit...he was Gazetted on the 27th of April as a Flying Officer (Observer)

 

Snap 2021-08-31 at 18.23.00.png

 

Father and son were involved in a Court Case in 1909.

 

Snap 2021-08-31 at 18.34.56.png

Edited by sadbrewer
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