William’s parents William Brotherstone (Snr) and his mother Ethel Priscilla had married in St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton on the 29th June 1912.
William Brotherstone (no age written down, but I believe he was 25 years old), Bachelor, Ironworker, Aston, father David Brotherstone, Blacksmith & Ethel Priscilla Price Humphries, 25 Spinster, 37, Brook Road, Shotton, father William Humphries Ironworker. After Banns. Witnesses:- Elizabeth Horton & George Ernest McCaddon James J.J. Robinson, Curate Officiated.
The next time we see the family is on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th June 1921, where we find them living at 4a, Fairfield Road, Queensferry. William Brotherstone was now age 34 years and 2 months old, he had been born in Edinburgh and was having Medical Treatment at Wrexham, but was ”Out of Work.” His wife, Ethel, was now age 34 years and 5 months old and had been born in Wolverhampton. Their children were Ethel May, age 10 years and 7 months, William, age 9 years 8 months, Lizzie, age 7 years 4 months and Elsie Loos, age 4, all had been born in Queensferry, Flintshire.
I do not have any information on young William’s early life and teenage years, but he was to meet Mary Alice Cooper and eventually marry her in a Civil Ceremony in Holywell in 1938, (Flintshire (Mold) HOL/60/109)
The 1939 National Register. which was taken on the 29th September 1939, also shows William (Snr.) living at 6 Scots Road , Hawarden R.D., Flintshire, Wales, and his date of birth is given as 1st May 1887 and he was an Iron Worker, Labourer, Heavy. His wife, Ethel’s birth date was 15th January 1887. Olwen Brotherstone, perhaps William Jnr’s sister, is also listed, she was born on the 14th February 1926 and was at school. I believe that Olwen was to marry in 1948 in the Prebyterian Church, Mancot to John R. Davies.( Flintshire (Mold) A102/04/E7).
The 1939 National Register tells us that William Brotherstone (Jnr.) had been born on the 10th November 1912, which was after the 1911 census was taken on the 2nd April 1911 and his wife Mary Alice was born on the 6th November, the following year in 1913. On the register their address was Plot 5, Kingsway, Shotton. Probably a new property. This Register also tells us that William was a Cotton Spinner.
William enlisted with the Territorials (5th R.W.F.) on the 21st May 1931, for 4 years, which also states that he re-enlisted on the 16th July 1940 in the 12th R.W.F., but there is a Discharge document from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’s that states William became “Non Eff.” on the 20th May 1935 and re-enlisted with them on the 26th July 1940, (different date from the other document).
Yet another document, a Royal Welsh Fusiliers Register, dated 26th July 1940 stating the Regimental number of 4205431, but it is noted in this that he had “Prior Service” and he was retaining the Regimental Number of 4190679.
I don’t know when he was transferred into the 6th Bn South Wales Borderers but he is listed on the Casualty List (Burma) as killed in Action on the 26th January 1945, along with 3 other brother’s in arms from the same Regiment.
The website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Campaign_1944%E2%80%9345 may shed some light on what happened to William, or there is downloadable PDF of the 6th Bn South Wales Borderers – http://royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/B09-04-SWB-WW2-6thBattalion.pdf
William’s Probate Brotherstone, William of Bilman, 11, Kingsway, Shotton, Flintshire died 26th January 1945 on war Service. Administration, Bangor 17th September to Mary Alice Brotherstone, Widow.
I believe that William’s father William died in 1943 before his son died in 1945 (Flintshire (Mold)HAW/28A/72). I think I have found his burial :- Hawarden Parish Registers – Burials – Page 54 Mo.430 William Brotherstone, 6, Scotts Road, Mancott 15th May 1943 age 56 years.
William is also remembered on the Hawarden WW2 War Memorial. Inscription on his Gravestone –
“IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING”
