William's Story.
In the late autumn of 1893, Thomas William Brunt, from Stockport, married Emma Hibbert (who had been born in Hazel Grove). A year later, William was born. At the time of the 1901 Census, Thomas was working in the local hat making industry. In 1911 the family were living at 24 Lingard Street, Reddish. Thomas listed himself as a widower, however documents completed in 1919 give an indication that Emma was alive, and more than likely they were separated. William 16, was working as a spinner at Broadstone Mill in Reddish.
William enlisted on the 23rd November 1915. He gave his age as 21 years 50 days, he was 5ft 5 ¼ inches, weighing 124lbs. His given address was 61 Churchill Street, Heaton Norris. He was held in the reserves until the 24th January 1916, he was then mobilised, and posted to the 14th battalion Cheshire Regiment the following day. He went to France on the 7th October 1916, joining the 9th battalion and seven days later on the 14th he was posted to the 10th battalion.
By early 1917, he was part of the Battalion's Lewis Gun section. Lewis guns were light machine guns operated by two-man teams. One man would carry and fire the gun; the other would carry and load ammunition. Also serving in the section was another Stockport man Martin Hodgson
On 16th January, the Battalion was in trenches at a position known as Despierre Farm, near the northern French town of Nieppe, close to the border with Belgium. This was a generally quiet sector throughout the war, but the Battalion's War Diary records "Enemy artillery bombarded our centre section held by "C" Company severely with 4.2s and shrapnel for about an hour. Considerable damage was done to trenches but only slight casualties were inflicted. 2 killed. 2 wounded."
Later, Lance Corporal Bob Henshall, who served with them, wrote to Martin Hodgson's father telling him what had happened. Martin and William had been in their dugout in the trench sleeping "in the customary shoulder to shoulder fashion", when a shell had exploded close to them killing them both. Bob Henshall had had a lucky escape as he usually slept in the same dugout but that night had been ordered further along the trench.
Regimental records note that William died of wounds and, certainly he is buried in a cemetery used by field ambulance units at the time. Perhaps, he lived for a very short time after the shell burst.
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser, Friday, February 2, 1917.
Private W. Brunt, of Stockport (died of wounds)
Pte. William Brunt, of the Cheshire Regiment, died of wounds on January 16th, 1917, after being on active service for just about a year. He was 22 years of age and before the enlisting was employed as a spinner at Broadstone Mill, Reddish. He was the son of Mrs. Brunt of 56 Lord street, Stockport.
When the weary ones we love
Enter on their rest above,
Seems the earth so poor and vast –
All our life-joy overcast.
Hush we every murmur dumb –
It is only “till we come.”
With heartfelt sorrow from Mother and Arthur.
56 Lord street, Stockport.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission collated its casualty information in the early 1920s and, at that time, noted that William's mother was living at 56 Lord Street, Stockport. There is no mention of his father, Thomas. However, in 1919 Thomas had filled in the statement of family members died, in the statement he lists Emma as, address unknown. There is in the registrations of deaths an Emma Brunt who died in March 1956 aged 83.