Warrant Officer Sydney Brunsdon

 

 

Sydney Brunsdon was born on 12 November 1889 at Helen's Bay, Bangor, County Down, son of English-born coast guard officer John James Brunsdon and his Donegal-born wife Elizabeth (nee Wright).

In the 1901 Census he was living with his family at Clonmaghery, Tyrella, County Down, and in 1911 was working as a marine engineer in Birkenhead, England.

Brunsdon enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 30 September or 1 October 1914 (No.1223). He rose to the rank of sergeant and on 17 November 1915 embarked for France as part of F Squadron.

The F Squadron war diary makes one mention of Sergeant Brunsdon, on 26 May 1916.

Established an O[bservation] P[ost] in the trenches under Lieut. Lowe & Sergt. Brunsdon.

Brunsdon later transferred to the Royal Engineers (No.244926) and then to the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers (No.WR/265872). He reached the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.

After the war he resumed work as a marine engineer. He died on 11 November 1935 while on board SS Diamond, which was then lying in No.14 Shed, King George V Docks, London.

 

Brunsdon's older and younger brothers Albert and Jack also served in the North Irish Horse and survived the war.

The image of "Corporal Brunsdon" above is probably Sydney, and can be seen in its full context here.