WW1
Mobilised from Section “D” Reserve, 5-8-1914
3rd Battalion
Posted to 3rd Battalion, 8-8-1914
Promoted to Corporal, 27-8-1914
Appointed acting Sergeant, 27-8-1914
Promoted to Sergeant, 11-9-1914
1st battalion
Posted to 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, 11-9-1914
France
To France, 11-9-1914
Awarded 1914 Star (+ Clasp), British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Appointed acting Company Sergeant Major, 12-1-1915
Killed in action, 16-1-1915
War Diary states “A Quiet Day”.
The Regimental History has the battalion rotating duty in the front line with the 2nd King’s Royal Rifle Corps between billets at Cambrin and the front line east of Cuinchy – at a railway triangle junction of the railway from the south and the main Lille – La Bassee – Bethune railway line.
Next of kin notified, 17-2-1915
Pension of 21/6 per week awarded to widow for herself and three children from 9th August 1915
RUSHDEN ECHO 5th February 1915
RUSHDEN VICTIM OF THE WAR
SERGT. MAJOR BRYANT
Shot by German sniper
AN INSTANTANTANEOUS DEATH
It is with deep regret that we have to record the news received from unofficial sources, of the death at the Front of yet another of Rushden’s soldier sons in the person of Sgt Major H W (Chick) Bryant, of the Northamptonshire Regiment.
The deceased soldier was formerly an employee of Messrs James Hyde Limited, and when he was called up at the beginning of the war his wife, with three children, went to reside with her mother at Colchester. In addition to these dependents, with whom much sympathy is felt, Sergt. Major Bryant leaves a mother, father, two sisters, and one brother in Canada, a sister and two brothers in Rushden, and another brother in Australia to mourn their loss.
The first intimation of the sad fatality was received by the deceased soldier’s sister. Mrs Bridgment of Glasbrook Road, Rushden on Jan 22nd, when she had a postcard from Pte. Magee of the same company in the following terms: “I am sorry to send the sad news that poor “Chick” met his death on Jan 16th. Knowing the family well, I thought it my duty to let you know”.
Information was at once sent to the widow and under date Jan 16th, she wrote to her sister-in-law, Mrs C Bryant of 86 Cromwell road, Rushden as follows: “The news leaves one broken-hearted. It was the first news I received about my poor husband when I got you letter on Saturday afternoon and I thought I should have gone mad. On Sunday morning I received a very nice letter from Sergt. Chapman, telling me of my husband’s death and how it happened. He said that my husband received a soldier’s burial, and that his death was instantaneous.
Oh, poor “Chick”, a good man to meet his death like this. It will drive me mad, I am sure for he was such a good husband to me, and a good father to his little ones, and I can’t realize it is true. I shall very likely come to Rushden a while, and then I can show you the letter I had. It appears that “Chick” and this Sergt. Chapman became true friends when they were called up. They went into battle side-by-side, and they decided that if anything happened to one of them, which ever one was left should write and let his wife know, and he said it was his greatest sorrow to write and tell me, for he said that he and “Chick” were the greatest of chums. I don’t know whatever I shall do without him – it has fairly broken me up, I can tell you. I wouldn’t have cared so much if I could have seen him, but it was his luck that he could not get leave. I must thank you very much for consoling me in this bereavement. I hope that I shall be able to come and see you soon, as it will ease my mind to know I have got some good friends, for he was a thorough good man.
Further particulars are given in a letter received on Jan 24th from the widow to Mrs Bridgment, sister of the deceased soldier, to the effect that he and his chum Sergt. Chapman were out on a sniping expedition when, owing to something attracting Bryant’s attention, he put his head above the level of the trench to reconnoitre and at once received a bullet through the brain, death being instantaneous.
The deceased soldier was, we understand, a member of the Rushden Windmill Club, and was otherwise well known and highly respected amongst shop-mates and townsmen, by whom his decease will be keenly felt.
Personal
Born at Wellingborough, in March 1882.
Son of Thomas Bryant and Mrs. Ester Bryant, of Pemberton St., Rushden.
Brother to Ben Bryant
A shoe hand prior to enlisting.
Married to Ethel Elsden at Parish Church of St Botolph, Colchester, Essex, 11-10-1909
Witnesses: George and Elizabeth Elsden
Kathleen Victoria, born at Colchester, 16-3-1910
Herbert William Thomas, born at Higham Ferrers, 30-10-1911
Richard William George, born at Higham Ferrers, 22-12-1913
Living at 20 Magdalen Street, Colchester in 1919.
1901 Census
5 Pemberton Street, Rushden
Thomas Bryant, shoemaker (on own account), 48, born at Northampton
Esther Bryant, wife, 48, born at Wellingborough
Herbert Bryant, “soldier in Northants Reg.”, 19, born at Wellingborough
Jessie, 16, shoe machinist, born at Wellingborough
Charles, 12, shoe laster, born at Wellingborough
Horace, 10, born at Rushden
Kate, 7, born at Rushden
Steve.
