Wilfred Brayn

Labour Corps

Personal Details

Born: Wilfred`s birth was registered Quarter 2 1896 in Whitchurch, Shropshire. However on the 1939 Register his date of birth is 25 April 1895.

Family: He was the eldest of seven children born to Thomas Ernest Brayn, an ironfounder`s carter, and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Purcell). He married Lizzie Matthews Quarter 2 1918 in the Atcham Registration District, Shropshire. The couple had two children, William and Richard.

Residence: On the 1901 and 1911 Censuses he was living with his parents in Railway Inn Yard, Station Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire. The address given for him on the Spring 1919 Absent Voters List was 37 Worthington Street which was the home of his parents, but on his pension record for 1919 his address is shown as 2 Upton Magna, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. By 1939 he and his family were living at 2 Riverdale Council Houses, Wellington, Shropshire.

Employment: In 1911 he was working as a grocer`s porter. By 1939 he was a road length man working for Shropshire County Council.

Died:  Quarter 1 1960 in Wellington, Shropshire, aged 63.

Military Details

Regiment:  Labour Corps (previously Machine Gun Corps)

Rank:  Private

Service Number:  502557 (previously 27192)

Date of Enlistment: Not known

Date of Discharge:  22 March 1919

Reason for Discharge:   Not known

Other Information:  Wilfred received a gunshot wound to the stomach  and was deemed to have a 20% degree of disability. His brother, Charles Alfred, also served in WW1 in the Labour Corps 452530.

Medals and Awards

Wilfred was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War Medal, and Victory Medal).


Campaign Medals

Great War History Hub Whitchurch Shropshire Medals Front Image

The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.

The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.





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