Private 24380 Frederick Cyril Brewin.

1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment

Killed in action on the 11th January 1917 in the France and Flanders Campaign aged 22 years.

Private Brewin is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, on Pier and Face 7B.

Son of Alfred and Annie Elizabeth Brewin, brother to Clarice Evelyn, Hilda Elizabeth, Mabel, and Annie Louisa. In 1891 his grandfather was the Sub Post Master of Rothley living in the Post Office on Cross Green where they had a boarder called Joseph Alfred Archer. Frederick lived with his family in Woodgate, Rothley. Husband to Eva Annie (Waldram), father of Marjorie Laura born in 1915 and living in Edna Cottage, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley.

Named on the War Memorial, Parish Church Roll of Honour, Parish Church Triptych Roll of Honour.

The War Diary for 11th January 1917 records:

At 6.15am on the morning of the 11th January 1917, the Battalion formed up to make an attack on MUNICH TRENCH, at 6.37am a barrage commenced, and at this time about 50 casualties occurred including Lt. (Temporary Captain) E. BELL (Officer Commanding 'C' Company) wounded. 2nd Lt. B.F.RITSON wounded, 2nd Lt. D.M. CHAMBERS wounded, 2nd Lt. T.W.Doke slightly wounded. At 6.45am the assault commenced and the line advanced in good order but as soon as the line of the MUNICH TRENCH was reached the ground became in places impassable, many men becoming bogged. The attack was pressed on and the left Company ('C' Company) reached MUNICH TRENCH only to find it obliterated. The right Company ('D' Company) passed over MUNICH TRENCH and took up a position in shell holes where they dug. The consolidation of the position was carried on throughout the day with great vigour and determination in spite of the casualties from snipers and machine gun fire. It was decided to push forward a series of strong posts in order to get as much command as possible, but some difficulty was experienced in finding dry islands in the morass. Occupied German dug outs were suspected and a strong patrol sent out to look for them, but failed to locate any within the limits of the patrol.