20420 Bernard Brady

Bernard Brady was born in August 1871 in Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan, Ireland the son of Thomas Brady and his wife Mary (nee Reilly). They appear to have had five children all boys. Bernard was baptised on 03rd September 1871.

 

On 16th December 1893, when aged 22, he embarks in Molville Co. Londonderry onto the S S Ethiopia bound for New York.

 

On 19th January 1899, aged 27, he appears as a trimmer deserting S S Umbrea in New York having joined it in 1898.

 

He appears to have reached Liverpool and enlisted in Seaforth Barracks. 

 

On 12th June 1900 a Police Gazette Notice lists a Pte 8418 Bernard Brady born 1871 and from Ballyhaise Co Cavan as a deserter at Seaforth Barracks  from the Lancs Artillery.

 

The April 1901 Census has a Bernard Brady, a dock labourer and cousin to Edward McEntee, also from Ireland, at 27a Bankhall Street Kirkdale Liverpool. 

 

On 02nd April 1911 the Irish Census shows Bernard as living at Marahill, Crossbones, Co. Cavan.

 

He enlisted in Liverpool as Private 21451 joining the 19th (Pals) The King's Liverpool Regiment. He later transferred to the Royal Defence Corps as Pte 20420.

 

Bernard was on Sentry duty on Saturday 02nd September 1916, he was engaged in guarding the Birmingham Waterworks Aqueduct at Dowles, near Bewdley. At around 10 p.m. he was walking along the railway line to his post when he was struck by a passenger train on the Severn Valley railway between Bewdley and Arley-on-Severn.  His Commanding Officer, Captain Deykin said Bernard was sober prior to the accident. The train driver named Attwood said when he arrived at Arley he found blood on his engine. A search was made along the line and Brady's headless body was found.

A verdict of Accidental Death was recorded by the Coroner at an inquest at Wribbenhall. Bernard was 45 years of age.

On 06th September 1916 an inquest report appeared in the Birmingham Daily Post under the header:

Birmingham Waterworks Guard Killed.

Mr Hebbert held an inquest at Wribbenhall yesterday on the body of Bernard Brady, a Private in the Royal Defence Corps engaged in guarding the Birmingham Waterworks Aqueduct at Dowles, near Bewdley. On Saturday night about 10pm deceased as walking along the line to his post when he was knocked down by a train and killed, his body being much mutilated. Captain Deykin said he had seen the man prior to the accident, and he was sober. The driver at the time, named Attwood, said that when he arrived at Arley, he found blood on his engine. A search was made and a deceased's body was found. A verdict of "accidental death" was returned.

Bernard now rests beneath a CWGC military headstone featuring the Royal Defence Corps badge at Wribbenhall, All Saints Churchyard near Bewdley. Worcestershire.

 

There are 3 First World War burials in the Churchyard.

 

His brother C Brady of Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan was notified. His Army pay arrrears of £3:3s:3d was sent to his brother Patrick on 10th April 1917. Followed by a War Gratuity of £1:16s:8d on 03rd October 1919. On 26th May 1920 the balance of both was sent to his other brothers Thomas and John Brady.