Samuel Brassington - Royal Garrison Artillery

Sam was born on 6 March 1897 to Nathan and Ruth Annie Brassington (nee Berrisford) of Feeder Cottage, Wincle, one of six siblings. His mother died when he was only four years old and his father remarried in 1902 to Rhoda Pyatt. In 1911 Sam was still at school and living at Feeder Cottage with his parents, sister Ruth and half-brother Harry. He had become a goods porter for the North Staffordshire Railway at Leek by 1914; even joining the National Union of Railwaymen.

Sam volunteered for the Army reserve on 29 January 1916 but was not called up until 19 March 1917 when he first trained as a gunner (#151260) and later as a signaller for the Royal Garrison Artillery. His army records tell us he was quite tall for his time, at 5’ 9”, and had brown eyes and brown hair. Initially based in the UK he was later posted to France where he was wounded in the arm and hand and hospitalised in Rouen. He was punished five times for overstaying his leave and pay was deducted. After the end of the war he was posted to Germany and finally discharged in September 1919.
​Although Sam didn't return in time for the presentation, he was still given his souvenir pocket watch by the committee of the Wincle Soldier's fund. He was proud enough of it to have his name inscribed on the back.

Samuel Brassington - Punishment Sheet

In 1920 Sam married Freda Keates and in the following eight years they had three children.  We’re not sure what he did immediately after the war – it’s perhaps most likely he continued with the railways. However, by the mid-1930s he and his wife had set up a shop at 25 Garden Street in Leek where they worked as grocers cum bakers & confectioners. He was still there when he died in 1971.

Samuel Brassington's shop Garden St Leek c.1990 courtesy of Neil Collingwood