Bryant MM, William Robert

BORN CURRAGH ARMY CAMP, COUNTY KILDARE, 1891. ELDEST SON ROBERT HUNSLEY BRYANT AND ELSIE (MARY HARRISON ELSPETH) BRYANT, OF BULFORD CAMP, SALISBURY. HIS FATHER WAS A PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER, BORN IN INDIA AND SERVED AS A QUARTERMASTER IN THE INDIAN ARMY. HE HAD TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS AND A SISTER.

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AT WORCESTER, ON 01/11/1905, AGED 14. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 4 INCHES TALL, 101 LBS WEIGHT, 29-32 INCH CHEST, FRESH COMPLEXION, GREY EYES, DARK BROWN HAIR, CHURCH OF ENGLAND RELIGION. HE PASSED CLASSES IN MAP RWADING, GEORGRAPHY, SWIMMING AND MOUNTED INFANTRY.

HE SERVED AS A CORPORAL IN THE 1ST WORCESTER REGIMENT AND WAS POSTED IN EGYPT WHEN WAR BEGAN. HE ARRIVED IN FRANCE, ON 05/11/1914. WOUNDED IN THE SHOULDER, AT NEUVE CHAPPELLE, ON 13/03/1915. HE RETURNED TO ENGLAND. MARRIED ALICE FRANCIS MURPHY (1890-1978), ON 09/10/1915, AT ST LEONARDS CHURCH, BULFORD, WILTSHIRE. THEY HAD A SON, FRANK WILLIAM HUNSLEY BRYANT, BORN ON 24/10/1916.

HE RETURNED TO FRANCE. WOUNDED AGAIN, ON 08/07/1916. AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL (MM) FOR BRAVERY, (LONDON GAZZETTE, ON 14/09/1916). PROMOTED TO COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR, ON 11/07/1916. HE WAS KILLED BY SHELLFIRE, ON 31/07/1917, AGED 25. COMMEMORATED ON THE YPRES MENIN GATE MEMORIAL, BELGIUM. HE HAD SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 11 YEARS AND 273 DAYS. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, ALICE FRANCES MURPHY AND SON, FRANK WILLIAM, WHO MOVED TO DUNNINGTON, YORKSHIRE.
HIS BROTHERS, JOHN AND GEORGE BRYANT, ALSO SERVED IN THE WAR.


First name:
WILLIAM ROBERT
Military Number:
9575
Rank:
Company Sergeant Major
Date Died
31/07/1917
Place died:
YPRES MENIN GATE MEMORIAL, BELGIUM
Age:
25
22 EVANS SQUARE, WALTON STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK