GUNNER 785990 JACK HAROLD BRYANT D BATTERY 312 BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.


GUNNER 785990 JACK HAROLD BRYANT D BATTERY 312 BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. DIED OF WOUNDS 14TH APRIL 1917.


Jack Bryant and his best friend Norman Glover travelled to Otley in early 1915 and together enlisted into the local Territorial Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. Despite the fact that both lads were under the minimum age for military service they were readily accepted by the Army. Circumstance would dictate that the two friends would serve in different units but fate intervened to ensure that both would be killed within just five days of each other.


Born in 1897 in Thurnscoe Road in the Manningham district of Bradford, Jack was the only son of John and Mary Bryant. His father worked in the licensed trade and during the early part of the 20th Century brought his family to Ilkley where he worked at The Star on Leeds Road and later the Midland Hotel on Station Road. Together the family lived at 17 Trafalgar Road near to the town centre.

The 312th Brigade remained in Britain until January 1917 when they were sent to France to prepare for the offensive in the Arras sector. On the 14th April the Brigade were positioned to the south east of the city of Arras, their objective to destroy the barbed wire in front of the German positions at Bullecourt prior to an infantry assault. The fire of the British guns attracted the attention of German artillery who, in retaliation, shelled the British positions. Jack was amongst the many men that day who became casualties. Badly wounded he was evacuated to the nearby 49th Casualty Clearing Station where, despite medical attention, he died.

Today Gunner Jack Bryant lies in the British Communal Extension Cemetery at Achiet-le-Grande where his sister Polly would have inscribed upon his headstone the words 'In memory of a loving brother'. These poignant words no doubt reflecting the loss of both her parents and only brother within just 3 years. Jack is also remembered on our war memorial in Ilkley. (photo courtesy James Cooper)



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