Category: War Graves

Operation Varsity

The 80th Anniversary of ‘Operation Varsity’ took place earlier this week. Over 3000 planes and gliders dropping troops around the Rhine area. One in five troops taking part were killed. Look it up. A forgotten battle.
Lots of our followers wanted to know more about the Glider Pilot Regiment so here are some links to their facebook site that you can access if you use facebook or their web site.
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/gprpublicgroup
You can also find more information on their web site  

Poppy Placing Project begins.

Those of you that follow our Facebook page or web site will know that each year in the run up to Remembrance Sunday you may see some of our nine pairs of ‘Poppy Cross Placers’.

We have nine pairs of volunteers that form part of our Poppy Cross Crew.

Each year, between them, they will visit every one of the 350+ War Graves scattered throughout the cemetery and place a Poppy Cross on each. It takes a lot of their time but they come back year after year to support this project organised by the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery. 

The Friends would like to thank them for their help with this worthwhile and emotional project and our fingers are crossed for reasonable weather!

New Memorial unveiled by Dr Carl Chinn.

All our work came good today as Dr Carl Chinn unveiled our Memorial in the Civilian Garden of Remembrance. Now the names of those buried in this area can be read by visitors. We were also pleased to welcome Councillors John Cotton and David Barker as well as Brian Wright and Matt Felkin representing BARRA accompanied by 4 Standard Bearers. Several of our volunteers joined us, as well as representatives of local history groups and FBEC committee members.

       

 

The Memorial is now on view in The Civilian Garden of Remembrance and on Saturday the 14th we will be there to give visitors more information about the people whose names are displayed.

 

Read more

Anzac day Remembrance

The 25th April is known in many countries as ANZAC Day. Events are held in Australia, New Zealand, the U. K., Ireland and many other countries to honour those who served in this ill fated campaign of the First World War. Many of those who served made the ultimate sacrifice.
Join us to commemorate Gallipoli/ANZAC Day in the “Second City” on
Sunday 21st April 2024, 2.00pm (meet at the Cross of Sacrifice on the main drive).
Brandwood End Cemetery, Woodthorpe Road, Kings Heath,
Birmingham, B146EQ.
Following a brief service there will be an opportunity to learn more about the burials linked to this event in Brandwood End. (Stout footwear is advisable).

Armistice Day 2023 , Saturday 11th November.

Ahead of working to remove shrubbery in the cemetery, 202 Multi-role Medical Regiment took place in a ‘Two Minute Silence’  at the Cross of Sacrifice. They were joined by a number of local people who were passing through the cemetery. They then placed Poppy Crosses by the screen walls and on  graves in the small War Grave Area before heading out to clear Holly and self setters from grave areas.

Four hours later we had lots of revealed graves and lots of bags of shrubbery!

 

Commonwealth War Grave area progresses.

Those of you that follow our posts will know that several months ago the Commonwealth War Graves Commission  re laid new turf in a small War Grave area adjacent to the main drive. This area is home to 8 of our 352 War Graves. Why these 8 are here together no one seems to know. Bereavements are mystified and so are the CWGC. The refreshing of this area has continued with the grass now lush and  the addition of new perennial flowers at the foot of each stone. Looking good.

The sinking of the Lusitania 0n 7th May 1915

You may wonder why we have included the above event in our National Cemeteries week, and why today? Maybe the date gives you a clue, as it is 107 years today since the Lusitania sank and on board was Reverend Canon Ernest Maxwell Phair- who  is buried in Brandwood End Cemetery.

 

 

Follow the link below to find out who he was and why he was travelling on the Lusitania that day.

 

FBEC – REVEREND CANON ERNEST EDWARD MAXWELL PHAIR

Family lose husband and twins to bombing raid

Todays story is sad, but unfortunately not an isolated incident during WW2. During the day of the 19th November 1940  no one could have foreseen what would happen overnight. It was another night of bombing in Birmingham but worse than most. Alfred Cope, a member of the AFS, and both of his twin sons, Stanley and John, lost their lives when a bomb fell in St Stephens Road Selly Park. Our thanks to BARRA, Doug Smith and  Lynda Peedle (Grand daughter) for their contributions.

For more information you can access our research via the link below in green. 

FBEC – ALFRED COPE AND TWIN SONS 1940


Chelsea Pensioner

Sergeant-Major Charles Dawes died in 1932 aged 96. Todays information is short, but he definitely needs a mention.

Kings Royal Irish Hussars – Service No. 1428
Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veteran – Chelsea Pensioner
Died 1st August 1932 aged 96 – 270 Clifton Road Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

“The last Birmingham survivor of the Crimean War was buried with full military honours on
Saturday (6th August 1932) at Brandwood End Cemetery, Birmingham. Hundreds of
people lined the route of three miles from his home and there were several hundreds
more at the cemetery.
Hampshire Telegraph – Friday August 12th 1932.”

Charles was born in Upper Street, Tettenhall Regis, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, and
baptised 25 October 1835. His father was James Dawes (a gardener from Penn) and his
mother was Elizabeth. He married Caroline Whyatt from Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire in
1867.
Two of his sons had Indian connection middle names – Albert Edward Shinwarrie Whyatt
Dawes and Charles William Gwalior Whyatt Dawes.