Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Simpson Bramley a former beer dealer, born 1838 in Woodhouse, Leicestershire, and his wife Caroline Bramley (nee Turner, married in the 2nd quarter of 1869 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1833 in Heanor, Derbyshire. William was born in the 1st quarter of 1877 in Rawmarsh, Yorkshire, he had one sibling, a brother Harry, born 1874 in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in April 1881 the family home was at 51, St. John’s Road, Rotherham. In April 1891 William was employed as a shoe pressman and was residing in the family home at 17, Pingle Street, Leicester, together with his father, a shepherd, his mother and brother Harry. In March 1901 William was employed as a shoe trade pressman and was residing at 7, Oakley Road, Leicester, this being the home of his bother Harry, and his wife Catherine, born 1873 in Dudley Port, Staffordshire, and their son, Harry, born 1899 in Leicester, also residing with his brother was his father, a hay trusser and his mother. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade sole rounder and pressman and was residing at 7, Oakley Road, Leicester, this being the home of his brother Harry and his wife Catherine, and their children, Harry, a schoolboy, and twins Fred, and Percy, both schoolboy’s, born 1904, the twins were born in Leicester, also residing in his brothers home were William’s parents, now both retired and pensioners.
The War Diary records: 21 Apr-15 - At 7.25am several civilians, apparently labourers, beyond boundary limit, not found after first seen, though searched for by party of SHERWOOD FORESTERS and ourselves, 300 yards north of SP.22. At 12.00noon enemy shelling WULVERGHEM, very mildly. At 3.40 to 3.45pm artillery test of E.1. right and F.2., fairly speedy reply to call for fire. Usual working parties, REGENT STREET in day time. At 3.55pm enemy apparently located our REGENT STREET working party with the result that 7 to 10 shells were dropped near SPY FARM, no casualties. Some impact, some air bursts. 3 fuses found numbered 50, 52 and 53, and lettered K.K. sent to ROYAL ARTILLERY. HQ’s retired to dug outs (2) in rear, very glad of 5th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT’s handiwork in building second -?-. German wearing dark cap with yellow armband, seen opposite E.1.R.. Remainder of day normal. In the evening a ROYAL ARTILLERY officer 3rd STAFFORDSHIRE BTY, went up to trench F.2. for night and day. Casualties, killed 3217 Pte W. BRAMLEY D Coy, wounded 2842 Pte L. BLACKWELL D Coy.
On Saturday May 8th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – DEATHS. BRAMLEY.- On 21st April, in Belgium, killed in trenches, William Bramley, late of 7, Oakley Road, No.3217, 4th Leicester’s, aged 38. He answered the call.