Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Cyril Richard Bramley, M.A. (Oxon) a Church of England Clergyman, born 1864 in Worsthorne, Lancs., and his wife Annie Marian Louise, born 1870 in Brixton, London, the daughter of the late Joseph Booth. Cyril Richard was born in 1891 in Manchester, Lancs., his siblings were Harold, born 1894 and Gladys M., born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Manchester, Lancs. and Kenneth W., born 1900 in Scarborough, Yorks., also residing with the family was his maternal aunt Maggie L., Booth, born 1876 in Croscombe, Somerset., in March 1901 the family home was at 20, Seamer Road, Scarborough, Yorks. In April 1911 Cyril was a theological student and was residing in the family home at The Vicarage, Donisthorpe, Leics., together with his father, now Vicar of St. John's, Donisthorpe with Moira (St. Hilda), and his brother Harold. His younger brother Harold fell in action. Cyril was educated at St. John’s School for Clergy, in Leatherhead, Surrey, and was a Private Tutor. He joined the Public Schools Battalion on the 6th August 1914 two days after war was declared and obtained a 2nd Lieutenancy in the 5th Battalion of the (King’s Own) Yorkshire Light Infantry on the 10th November 1914, he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 7th April 1915, subsequently acting as Transport Officer until he was promoted to Captain on the 1st September 1916. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 20th January 1917 and was killed in action at Beaumont Hamel on the 20th February 1917 from the bursting of a shell while getting his men into safety when he was leading them into the front trench. He was buried in the English Cemetery near Beaucourt. His Colonel wrote, “ That he was a brave man and well liked by his fellow-officers and men.” Cyril was unmarried. Inside the church of St. John the Evangelist is a private memorial plaque, details are that he was killed in action in France age 25 years, he was the eldest son of Rev. C. Richard and Annie Bramley, Vicar of Donisthorpe. On Thursday March 1st 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR” – CAPT. C. R. BRAMLEY KILLED.- Capt. Cyril R. Bramley, K.O.Y.L.I., killed in action on Feb. 20th, was the eldest son of the Rev. C. Richard Bramley, who was for seven years vicar of St. James’s, Scarborough, and now vicar of Donisthorpe, Ashby de la Zouch. Educated at St. John’s Clergy House, Leatherhead, and at Keble College, where he passed his final examination for the B.A. degree in June 1913, Capt Bramley was a tutor and schoolmaster until the war broke out. In 1914 he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion, and got his commission in January, 1915, being promoted Captain in September, 1916.