Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 57694 Benjamin Staley Brearley

Age: 33
From: Newhall, Burton on Trent
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
K.I.A Saturday 22nd September 1917
Commemorated at: Torreken Farm
Panel Ref: B.14

Benjamin Staley Brearley was born in the March quarter of 1884 in Newhall, near Burton Upon Trent, (Derbyshire/Staffordshire), the son of Joseph Brearley and his wife Elizabeth (née Jarvis). Joseph, born in Newhall, and Elizabeth, in nearby Swadlincote, married in 1858. Benjamin was the youngest of at least eight children.

In 1891 the family is living near the church and the Trafalgar Inn in Newhall. His father is 57, a coal miner, his mother is 51, William is 9, and Benjamin 6.

His mother appears to have died in 1895, when Benjamin was 11.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 29 Meadow Lane, Newhall. His father,is aged 66, he is widowed and is a coal miner/heaver, as are William aged 19, and Ben aged 17. Mary Ann, 29, is a cook/domestic, working on her own account.

When he was 23, in 1907, Benjamin married Lizzie Richards at the Independent Chapel, High Street, Burton on Trent. Their first child, Frank Leonard Staley, was born in 1908 in Ashby de la Zouche. Benjamin appears in the 1908 Ashby de la Zouche directory as an insurance agent, at 45 Smisby Road.

Their next child, Ivy, was born in 1909 but sadly died at age 2.

In 1911 the young family is living at 380 Meadow Lane, Nottingham. Benjamin is 27, employed as a canvasser, assurance. Lizzie is 24, born in Birmingham, and son Frank is aged three, born 1908.

Another daughter, Doris Elizabeth was born in 1913, but died in infancy.

They had another daughter, Clarice May in 1914.

That same year, Ben appears in the Nottingham City Directory, as a salesman, address 23 Finsbury Avenue. Another daughter, Bessie, was born in 1916 and appears to have died young.

Benjamin enlisted in Nottingham into the North Midland Divisional Cyclist Company as Private 382.

He was transferred to the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57694.

He was killed in action on the 22^nd September, 1917, aged 33, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

18^th Battalion War Diary for 22nd September 1917

Enemy shelled intermittently. Found working parties to Front Line, Wiring and Digging.

Casualties. Killed

17076 Sergt D Malcolm

203094 Pte G Fearon

57694 Pte B Brearley

202830 Pte J Conway

57784 Pte W Elliott

203179 Pte N. Williams

He now rests at Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Belgium.

Wytschaete was taken by the Germans early in November 1914, and was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was retaken for the last time on 28 September. The cemetery, begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment in June 1917 and used as a front line cemetery until April 1918, contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.

Benjamin appears in the list of Previously reported Wounded, now Not Wounded, in the Nottingham Evening Post on 6th October 1917.

Lizzie, living at 26 Worksop Road, Nottingham, received his effects, including a War Gratuity of £5-10s, and a pension of £1-2s-11d a week for herself and two children.

CWGC shows Lizzie, c/o Mrs. Richards, Hawkins Lane, Burton-on-Trent (her parents’ address).

Lizzie remarried in 1919, and had a daughter.

In 1939 Lizzie was living in Burton upon Trent with her husband and daughter, and her widowed father.

Lizzie died in 1955, aged 67. Benjamin’s son Frank and daughter Clarice both married and had families. Frank died in 1963, and Clarice in 1981.

Sadly, Benjamin has not been found on any memorials.

We currently have no further information on Benjamin Staley Brearley, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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