Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Brotherton a brewers labourer, born on the 4th March 1862 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire and his wife Ada Brotherton (nee Chester, married on the 28th June 1885 in the All Saint’s Church, Lubenham, Leicestershire), born on the 30th April 1866 in Clipstone, Northamptonshire. William David was born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in Little Bowden, Northamptonshire, and was baptised on the 5th March 1896 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, his siblings were John George Brotherton Chester, a type founder’s caster, born on the 16th March 1885 in Lubenham, Leicestershire and baptised on the 3rd May 1885 in All Saint’s Church, Lubenham, Kate, a type founder’s breaker off, born on the 16th February 1887 and baptised on the 7th April 1887 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, Florence, born on the 31st October 1888 and baptised on the 7th February 1889 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, Ellen (Nellie), born on the 18th January 1891 and baptised on the 19th February 1891 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough and Arthur, born in the 1st quarter of 1895 and baptised on the 4th February 1895 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, the latter four siblings were all born in Market Harborough, Maria, born on the 18th June 1898 and baptised on the 23rd September 1899 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough and Susannah, born in the 1st quarter of 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Little Bowden, in March 1901 the family home was at Lathkill Street, Little Bowden. In April 1911 William was employed as a gardener and was residing in the family home at 54a, Bath Street, Market Harborough, together with his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Nellie, a laundry worker, Arthur, a brewery labourer, May, a schoolgirl, Susan, a schoolgirl, Lizzie, a schoolgirl, born in the 1st quarter of 1904 and George, a schoolboy, born on the 12th March 1906 and baptised on the 22nd November 1912 in St. Hugh’s Church, Little Bowden, the latter two siblings were both born in Market Harborough. William had two other siblings, William born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 in Little Bowden and baptised on the 4th August 1893 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, and who died in the 1st quarter of 1894 and Lizzie born in the 3rd quarter of 1899 in Little Bowden and baptised on the 23rd September 1899 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough and who died in the 4th quarter of 1899.
William enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th September 1914 in Market Harborough, and was allotted the service number 14466. He gave his place of birth as Little Bowden, near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire and age as 19 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as gardener.
His medical examination took place in Market Harborough on the 10th September 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years, that he was 5 feet 5½ inches in height, weighed 10 stone 7 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36½ inches, his complexion was described as fair, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his mother Ada, father George, brother John, sister Kate, 8, Dingley Terrace, Market Harborough.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Leicester. 10/9/14.
Posted. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/9/14.
Transferred to AB.
Rejoined from AB. 14/9/14.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 25/9/14.
Killed in action. Place not stated. 16/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 10/9/14 – 28/7/15. 322 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 16/9/15. 50 days.
Total Service. 1 year 7 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twelve pages, of which only five pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 15 Sept-15 - BIENVILLERS. The German attack anticipated by the FRENCH on the night of the 14th/15th September did not materialise. Incessant shelling was heard during the early morning, and the whole day of September 15th in a northerly direction. The firing was evidently many miles away. A working party of 290 men under Captain HERVEY worked at digging of the support trenches behind “D” Company’s trenches, ie: Group 4. One man was killed by a bullet.
The War Diary records: 16 Sept-15 - BIENVILLERS. No work was done this day.
On Wednesday September 22nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News has come to hand that Private D. BROTHERTON, of the 9th Leicester’s, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton, of Dingley-terrace, Market Harborough, has been killed in France. He was only 19 years of age.