Bramwell's Story.
Bramwell Boulton, Pte., Reg. No. 31617 Labour Corps (Formerly 42340 South Wales Borderers) Died 7-11-1918 aged 31. He is recorded on the CWGC site under 42340. Cemetery; Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Son of James Knight Boulton and Hannah Boulton of Acton Bridge Cheshire, Husband of Frances Hannah Boulton of 3 Marsh Hall Pad, Farnworth, Widnes. He appears to be known as Bramwell but was christened Zacchaeus Bramwell Boulton.
It is the CWGC address detail of his parents that brings Bramwell to be included in the Acton Bridge “Fallen” and that information has to be accepted although I do wonder why James and Hannah had come into the village at that time. From the 1901/11 census information James occupation appears to be Engineer, Marine. James Knight Boulton was born in Nantwich 1852 and married a Hannah Fisher Vaughan in Nantwich in 1871.
Bramwell can be found on the 1911 census living at No5 Back High Street with his wife Francis Hannah (22) and children Mary (2) and Daisy (3m). The census records Bramwell (23) as being born in Crewe and working as a Chemical Labourer. He appears to have moved to Widnes sometime later.
Cheshire BMD records a Zacchaeus B. Boulton marrying a Frances H. Owen at Runcorn, Civil Marriage or Registrar attended in 1907. Zacchaeus B. was born at Crewe in Sept. 1887.
The Runcorn Weekly News has the following article; 15th Nov. 1918 (P8/C1)
“After being home on leave Drummer. Bramwell Boulton, South Wales Borderers, returned to France three weeks ago, became a victim to the epidemic and died on the 7th Inst., at the 41st Stationary Hospital, France, from pneumonia. Thirty-one years of age, he was the son of Mr. J. Bolton of 103 Hurst Street Widnes and husband of Mrs Bolton of 3 Marsh Hall Pad, Farnworth, for whom with her four children, much sympathy is felt. He was formerly employed at the Silver and Copper Works and joined up in January 1915. He came home on his first leave from France twelve months ago. A letter from matron of the hospital informed Mrs Boulton that her husband had been well cared for. Mrs Boulton's three brothers, Private W. Owens, taken prisoner in March last year, Private David Owens and Private Arthur Owens have been on service in France, the two latter being still there.”
(Note the spelling of Boulton (Bolton).)
Another Victim of the Epidemic.
The address in the article above and the address recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for his parents would suggest that Bramwell's parents had moved from Widnes to Acton Bridge after his death.
The Medal Roll data was a little confusing as they had Bramwell's regimental numbers as 42540 and should be 42340 with his second number as 131617 and the CWGC have 31617. Bramwell was awarded the Victory and British medals.
Historical Information from CWGC on 41st Station Hospital;
“During part of August 1914, Amiens was the British Advanced Base. It was captured by the Germans on 31 August, and retaken by the French on the following 13 September. The German offensive which began in March 1918 had Amiens for at least one of its objectives but the Battle of Amiens (8th to 11th August 1918) is the Allied name for the action by which the counter offensive, the Advance to Victory, was begun.”
“The 7th General Hospital was at Amiens in August 1914; the 56th (South Midland) Casualty Clearing Station from April to July 1916; the New Zealand Stationary Hospital from July 1916 to May 1917; the 42nd Stationary Hospital from October 1917 to March 1919; and the 41st Stationary Hospital in March 1918, and again in December 1918 and January 1919.”
Mr. M. Mc'Nicholas from Widnes who has researched the Widnes “Fallen” adds the following; Bramwell had initially been buried in a cemetery called Dury Hospital Military Cemetery. Those buried there where re-interred in 1927 in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. The CWGC state the following information; “DURY HOSPITAL MILITARY, CEMETERY, under the wall of the Asylum near the West side of the Amiens-Dury road. From August 1918 to January 1919, this building was used intermittently by British medical units, and a cemetery was made next to an existing French Military Cemetery. The British cemetery contained the graves of 195 Canadian and 185 United Kingdom soldiers and airmen; 63 Australian soldiers; one man of the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps; and one French and one American soldier.”
Mr. McNicholas also confirms that Bramwell is remembered on the main Widnes Cenotaph in Victoria Park and that Bramwell's surname of Boulton has been miss-spelt to Bolton at various times.
Research Bob Heaton