Pte 33220 David Brocken

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 24th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Porte-de-paris Cem, Cambrai
  Panel Ref: I.A.20

David Brocken was born on the 22nd September 1893 the son of James Brocken and his wife Margaret (née Williams). His parents married on the 08th May 1872 at the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas. James was mariner of Burlington Street, father James a labourer, whilst Margaret was also of Burlington Street, father William a mariner. David was baptised on 25th October 1893 at Christ Church, Everton, the family address given as 14 Skirving Street, Liverpool. His father was Catholic and his mother Protestant. He had older siblings William, Mary, Margaret Thompson, James, Cuthbert, and Edward Wallace. A set of twins James and Margaret were stillborn in 1890. David was baptised on 25th October 1893 at Christ Church, Everton, the family address given as 14 Skirving Street, Liverpool. 

He was educated at St Michael's Roman Catholic Secondary School.

The 1901 Census shows the family living with married sister Margaret Noonan and her one year old son John at 47 Brisbane Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. David's father, James, is aged 54, born in Liverpool in 1847 and is a Marine Stoker. His wife Margaret is aged 46, born 1855 in Liverpool, they declare four children in the household, who were all born in Liverpool. James is aged 19, born 1882 and is a Commercial Traveller, Cuthbert aged 16, born 1885, occupation Boiler Cleaner, Edward aged 14, born 1887 and David aged 8, born 1893 are of school age.

His mother died, aged 49, in 1904. 

When he was 11 years old, after his mother’s death, David was baptised in St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church on 01st August 1905, the family then living at 55 Brisbane Street. The baptism record shows birthdate 07th November 1893 and witness Margaret Noonan.

His father died, aged 61, in 1908, and was buried on the 26th January at Ford Cemetery. His address was the West Derby Union(workhouse).

There is no sign of David on the 1911 Census. but before enlisting he worked for Blackledges(Bakers). His brothers William, James, and Cuthbert joined the merchant marine,so it is possible that David did also, although he has not been found on crew lists.

He enlisted in Prescot and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 33220 when he died of wounds on the 24th October 1916, aged 24. He was taken as Prisoner of War and records show his name as David Brooken a soldier of the 21st Reserve Battalion, D Company (30th Division 21 Brigade) of The King's Liverpool Regiment and died as a result of a hip injury and appears to have been originally buried in Cambrai.

His next of kin details were held as Annie Brocken 58 Leadenhall Street, Everton, Liverpool.

His wounding was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 29 November 1916:

Wounded. King’s (Liverpool Regiment) 

Brocken, 33220, D.;

The ICRC would only have received the information found on his ID disc. It is, therefore, presumed that David trained with the 21st Bn before being posted to the 18th and didn‘t update the details on his ID disc.

CWGC records show David as part of the 18th battalion KLR. 

He now rests at Porte de Paris Cemetery, Cambrai, France.

CWGC describes Porte-de-Paris Cemetery as the more modern of the two town cemeteries. A great part of it was used by the enemy for the burial of German and Allied dead during the War, and a large German obelisk was erected. It contained at one time German burials, French, Russian, Rumanian and Belgian. The German graves, however, were removed after the Armistice, and the British graves were regrouped in two Plots on either side of the local War Memorial, near the middle of the cemetery.

David earned his two medals.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 10s, £3 War Gratuity and Pension of 5/- pw to sister-in-law Annie Brocken (wife of Cuthbert).

His death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 20 January 1917:

DIED A PRISONER OF WAR.

Official news has been received by Mrs A. Brocken of 58 Leadenhall Street, Everton, that Private D. Brocken, K.L.R., has died a prisoner of war at Cambria, and is buried in the cemetery of Notre Dame. The date of death is stated to be October 24, 1916. The deceased soldier was formally employed at Blackledge’s[bakers]. His brother James emigrated to Australia and settled in Tasmania. He served in the 47th Bn. Australian Infantry and was wounded at Pozières in August 1916. He recovered from his wounds but was again wounded in action and died of his wounds on 02nd May 1918.  James now rests in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, 10 miles east of Amiens. He was 36 years old, married with a family. His brother Edward enlisted in the Army in 1909 and served with the Army Service Corps, the Corps of Hussars, and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He arrived in France on 20th August 1914 with the B.E.F., and at some point was wounded in action and was discharged in July 1918 with a Silver War Badge, having lost his right arm. 

His five brothers John, Edward, David, James, and William, all served in World War Two, and all survived.

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