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Herbert Walker Brass (1885-1977)


From Sacriston, served in Royal Engineers


Born in Wingate in 1885, Herbert Walker Brass was the son of colliery manager Thomas Francis Brass. After Herbert left the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, he studied mining engineering in Durham and Yorkshire.

When the First World War began, Herbert enlisted in the Royal Engineers and served as a dispatch rider. 29704 Corporal Brass was home on leave in February 1915, when this short article was printed in the Chester le Street Chronicle.

On 17 February 1916, Herbert Brass was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Engineers and was wounded three times whilst on active service. Lieutenant Brass was demobilised after the end of the war and returned to the mining industry. He died in Newcastle in 1977.

Between 1907 and 1913, Herbert’s father was County Councillor for the Edmondsley division of County Durham. The family was then living at Charlaw House in Sacriston. During the First World War, all six Brass brothers served in the Army. James Brass was killed in action in 1915 serving with the 8th Battalion DLI.

BACK TO THE FRONT
“Dispatch Rider Corporal Herbert Brass, one of the six sons of County Councillor T. F. Brass, Sacriston, now serving in the Army, on Thursday, returned to the front after seventy-two hours’ leave. He had some hair-breath escapes, and on one occasion delivered a dispatch to a general who was mortally wounded two minutes later.”

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Birth date: 1885

Death date: 1977

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 1901 Census: Charlaw House, Sacriston.

Education: Royal Grammar School, Newcastle

Employment: Mining engineer

Family: Parents:Thomas Francis & Mary Brass. Siblings: John, Hilda, Herbert, Simon, Thomas, James, Reginald.

Military service:

29704 Private (later Corporal), Royal Engineers.
Commissioned 1916 - Lieutenant Royal Engineers.

Medal(s): British War Medal, Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office Jack Mulligan, Lewis Cooper and Daniel Hyatt

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