Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton

• Age: 27
• From: Marple, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• Died on Tuesday 30th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Roland Henry Brewerton was born in the March quarter of 1891 in Marple, Cheshire, and was the son of William Arthur Brewerton and his wife Constance Caroline Louisa (nee Verity). His parents married in 1887 at St bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow. Roland was baptised on 30th May 1891 at St John's Church, Lindow. His father is shown as a Professor of Music and the abode is shown as Fulshaw.

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Chapel Lane, Bollin Fee, Altrincham. Roland is a new born living with his parents and elder brother Arthur H. aged 2. His father is a Professor of Music born in Wakefield in 1861 whilst his mother was born in Manchester in 1857. There are two servants present in the household.

By 1901 the family are living at Albert Park, Wilmslow. Roland is now 10 years of age and is living with his parents and 3 brothers at the home address. His brothers are Arthur H. now 12, Eric aged 7 and 3 year old  William L. There are two servants present in the household.

He was educated at Manchester Grammar School between the years 1904-1906.

In 1908 the following report showed how talented a musician Roland was: 

Only 16 years of age, Roland Brewerton of Fulshaw,  Wilmslow has just secured the appointment of organist at the Styal Unitarian Church. He is a son of Mr W.A . Brewerton, the conductor of the Wilmslow Choral and Philharmonic Societies, and organist of Wilmslow Congregational Church.

The 1911 Census shows a Roland H Brewerton, a music teacher living as a boarder in the home of William and Mary Hughes in Bickley Moss. His age is shown as 23 years of age and his date of birth as 1888 but the Census records are notoriously incorrect for dates of birth and ages. Given Roland's background in Music it appears that this is him. He is not present at the family home on the 1911 Census. His family are living at Eversley, Victoria Road, Wilmslow. Both parents are present as are his brothers Arthur Harld, a 22 year old organist and teacher of music , Eric and William Leslie who are both at school. Again the family have two servants in the household.

Further evidence of Roland's musical talent was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 18th March 1915

CHILDREN'S MUSICAL FESTIVAL

St George's Hall

Mr Herbert F. Ellingford provided the accompaniments on the grand organ, and amongst his solos on the instrument was his own transcription, giving scope for his splendid executive gifts of the "Ride of the Valkyries." Mr Roland H. Brewerton played with an infinite lyrical charm, but one questioned whether in so large a hall this lyrical charm had much of a chance, or whether his piano-forte contributions where sufficiently adapted to the nature of the gathering.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 26th March 1915

A private (invitation) demonstration of the Clutsam Cradle keyboard is to be given in the Rushworth Hall tomorrow afternoon by Mr Fred T. Clutsam, the inventor, Mr Roland Brewerton playing the examples.  

He was serving in the 8^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment and attached to the 19^th Battalion as a Lieutenant when he was killed in action on the 30^th April 1918 aged 27 during the German Spring Offensive.

He was Gazetted on 02nd November 1916:

Undermentioned cadets to be 2nd Lt's (on prob.)

Liverpool Regt. -

Roland Henry Brewerton

He was confirmed in his rank 2nd Lt on 30th Jan 1917, and gazetted after his death 28th Sept 1918 

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts. : —

R. H. Brewerton, next below Lt. M. Hawkesworth. 25th Apr. 1918.

The Battalion diary for the 30th April records the following:

The enemy heavily shelled the Battalion front , particularly the support positions, during the day.   

Roland has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Enquiries were made of the International Red Cross in August 1918 asking for any information about Roland.

Details, below, give further details of Roland's life 

The third Wilmslow man to fall on the last day of the month was Lt Roland Henry Brewerton (1891 - 1918) of the 8th King's Liverpool Regiment. He was the son of Constance and William (a renowned organist and music teacher) from Albert Road and in 1911 Roland was a music teacher himself, living in Whitchurch, Shropshire.   

Soldiers Effects to father William Arthur, Pension record has no award.

Probate 1920 of Roland Henry Brewerton, Berkley St, Liverpool. Second-Lt(?) KLR, £205:11s:3d to father William Arthur

Roland is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Manchester Grammar School 

St Bartholomew’s Church, Wilmslow

Wilmslow War Memorial

Prenton War Memorial

We currently have no further information on Roland Henry Brewerton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.