Brinklow, T
THOMAS BRINKLOW
Remembered with honour Ovillers Military Cemetery: Plot VII, Row C, Grave 9
He originally attested in the 4th Bedfordshire Militia 10 January 1898 at Hemel Hempstead, Herts, Private 3632: a bricklayer’s labourer aged 19, 5’4″ tall, C of E, of Berkhamsted, Herts. Then attested 25 February 1898 Short Service (7 years with the Colours, 5 years in the Reserve) Bedfordshire Regiment, and posted to the 2nd Battalion 26 February 1898 Private 6225; then posted to the 1st Battalion 20 September 1899. Served at Home 25 February 1898 to 21 September 1899; and in the East Indies 22 September 1899 to 31 January 1906, during which time he was awarded a Nursing Certificate in 1902 becoming a Hospital Orderly as a qualified nurse. He extended his service to complete 8 years with the Colours 18 April 1904, and served at Home 1 February 1906 to 24 February 1914, having re-engaged for four more years 12 February 1910. He was discharged 24 February 1914 at the termination of his engagement: aged 27, 5’6″ tall, of Watford. Throughout this time he committed various misdemeanours and suffered from minor ailments.
He re-enlisted in Bedford, was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action in the new front line near Montauban-de-Picardie, consolidating and under intermittent shell-fire. Unfortunately, Thomas’ W.W.1 Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Son of Isabella Elizabeth DICKS (formerly BRINKLOW, nee SHERFIELD) and the late Thomas BRINKLOW; husband of Violet (nee DUNTON) BRINKLOW.
His parents married 26 March 1876 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead. Thomas died 1896 in the Leighton Buzzard, Beds, district aged 45. Isabella remarried 1902 in the Ampthill, Beds, district to William Charles Isaac DICKS. William died 9 September 1937 aged 62; Isabella died 13 February 1950 aged 79; both in Beckenham, Kent.
Thomas was born 5 August 1878 in Boxmoor, Herts, and baptised 18 September 1878 at St John the Evangelist, Boxmoor. He married 2 March 1907 at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted; they had four children. He resided in Watford. Violet and the children emigrated to Australia 26 March 1926 aboard the Aberdeen Line Themistocles London to Brisbane.
On the 1881 Census, aged 2 he lived in Eaton Bray, Beds, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1891 Census, at school aged 13, he lived in Eddlesborough, Bucks, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, he is serving somewhere in the East Indies. On the 1911 Census, a brewery labourer aged 32, he lived in Berkhamsted, with his wife and three children.
Service number
19349Rank
PrivateUnit
2nd BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
03/07/1916Age at death
37Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)