The Brackenbury boys

When we remember those who fought for their country we tend to think of the Great War of 1914-18 but many of our young men also served and many died in the second world conflict on 1939-45.

Few families were not touched by either but none can possibly equal the record of one from which ten brothers were on war service at the same time, the Brackenbury boys from Twenty, near Bourne.

They were the sons of Albert Henry Brackenbury (died 1947) and his wife. They were:

Lance Corporal Thomas Henry Brackenbury (1906-72), the eldest, who volunteered for army service at the outbreak of the war and was then with a battery of the Royal Artillery somewhere on England, later serving North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Germany. His wife lived at Bicker, near Spalding, where he later farmed.

Private Edward Brackenbury, another early volunteer, was also with the Royal Artillery in England. His wife lived at 17 Ayscoughee Avenue, Spalding.

Corporal Fred Brackenbury was serving in India with the Royal Air Force having also volunteered at the outbreak of the war in 1939. His wife lived at 72 Marsh Rails Road, Spalding.

Private Arthur Brackenbury had been in the regular army for thirteen years, having volunteered in 1930, and was serving as a despatch rider. Soon after the outbreak of the war he was drafted to France and later evacuated a Dunkirk. He had also served in Hong Kong, China and India. His wife was living at 12 Johnson Avenue, Spalding.

Guardsman Charles Brackenbury joined the Coldstream Guards in 1940 soon after the outbreak of the war and was serving in England.

Private Henry Brackenbury was a prisoner of war in Germany. He had joined the regular army two years before the war started and was sent to France in 1939 and evacuated at Dunkirk.

Private Victor Brackenbury volunteered for military service in 1938, before the war started, and served for a spell in Iceland but was discharged in 1943 on medical grounds.

Privates Harry and Joseph Brackenbury were twins who had joined the army in May 1943 having been members of the local Home Guard.

Private Tony Brackenbury, the youngest of the sons, was a soldier with the Territorial Army when the war broke out when he was called up for regular service in 1939. He was now serving in India.

All of the brothers returned safely from the war, unlike many other servicemen from the small towns and villages of South Lincolnshire and founded families of their own. Although born in different places such as Wigtoft, Algakirk, Gosberton, Swineshead and Donington, all considered Bourne to be their home town and their descendants think the same.

One of them, Jonathon Brackenbury, grandson of the eldest son, Thomas, who lives in Boston, said that research indicated that this family's ancestors were the Brackenburys of the southern Lincolnshire Wolds who lived in places such as Spilsby, Scremby and Raithby, and are related to other branches in the western part of Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire.

"There are thousands in America descended from the handful who sailed from Lincolnshire on the first waves of immigration in the 1630s", he said, "while the Australian and New Zealand branches relate to some of those transported in the early 1800s. These are reputed to include connections with Fletcher Christian, Joseph Banks and Matthew Flinders as well as Sir John Franklin's expeditions and so we have a long and interesting history."