Brownfield, Reginald John

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Reginald John Brownfield (Roy)

Captain, 4th (attached 2nd) Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Mentioned in Dispatches
Killed in action, 18 December 1914, aged 27
No known grave

CWGC registered (Son of Martha BO Brownfield, of Peachfield Cottage, Malvern Common, Worcestershire, and the late Douglas Harold Brownfield)

Roy Brownfield was born on 7 April 1886. He was the only son of Douglas Harold Brownfield, a china manufacturer living at Trentham, Staffordshire, and his wife Martha Brownfield (née Walker). The Census for 1891 reveals that Roy had two sisters, Gladys Mary and Eileen Moira. Roy was educated at Strubbington House School, Ascot; Wren’s School, Bayswater; and Denstone College, Uttoxeter. The Census for 1901 records him as being a boarder at Denstone. He later went to Sandhurst, passing out in 1905 and was gazetted as a second lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He served “at home” from 15 August 1905 until 29 September 1908 when he was sent to 1st Battalion in India, being promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1909. On 30 July 1910, Roy was posted for a tour of duty with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at the regimental depot at Warwick. The Census for 1911 records Lieutenant Brownfield billeted at Longmore Camp in Hampshire. Roy’s parents’ then address was “Kenilworth”, Abbey Road, Llandudno. The 1911 Census describes Douglas Brownfield as a merchant in clay. Roy resigned his commission on 20 August 1913 and was promoted to the rank of captain on the Reserve List in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, formerly the 2nd Warwickshire Militia. He moved to Llandudno on his retirement from the army but what occupation he took is uncertain. His address was later given as “Llys Helyg”, Abbey Road. He played for the Llandudno Cricket Club and was a member of both the Llandudno Golf Club and the Caernarvonshire Golf Club at Conwy and had a wide circle of friends.

When war was declared on 4 August, Roy Brownfield reported to the 4th Battalion on the Isle of Wight. The 2nd Battalion, which had been in Malta at the outbreak of war, returned to England on 19 August and landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October. Roy Brownfield was subsequently attached to the 2nd Warwicks, disembarking in France on 26 November 1914.

Roy Brownfield was killed in action whilst leading an attack on a German trench at Rouge Bancs, near Armentières on 18 December 1914 aged 27. He was later mentioned in dispatches. He has no known grave. Roy’s father died in 1917 so when Roy’s estate was finally wound up in 1918, probate was granted to his mother.

Known memorials:

  • Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium
  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Denstone College

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