BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY
Bray-sur-Somme
Somme
France
Awaiting replacement image, this picture used with permission www.cwgc.org
General Directions: Bray-sur-Somme is a village 8 kilometres south-east of Albert. Bronfay Farm is 3 kilometres north-east of the village on the road to Maricourt and the Cemetery is on the south-east side of the road opposite the farm.
The cemetery was begun by French troops in October 1914, but little used by them. It was used by Commonwealth troops from August 1915 to February 1917, particularly during the Battle of the Somme, when the XIV Corps Main Dressing station was at the farm. During the retreat and advance of 1918, further burials were made and after the Armistice, graves of March, August and September 1918, were brought in from the fields between Bronfay Farm and Bray.
Casualty Details: UK 519, Australia 15, South Africa 1, India 2, Total Burials: 537
390132 Coy. Serjeant Major
Thomas William Manktelow DCM
9th Bn. Queen Victoria's Rifles
24/08/1918, aged 23.
Son of Oliver and Florence Manktelow (nee Henderson) of 17 Delhi St. Islington
Husband of Annie Mabel (May) Manktelow (nee Bartleman)
Born 05/06/1895 in Islington, London
In 1914 at the age of 19, Will enlisted in the QVR, London Regt. By the summer of 1918 he was Company Sergeant Major with a Distinguished Conduct Medal involved in the fighting withdrawal in the face of the German spring offensive. By August the German advance had stalled at Amiens and his unit was part of the general advance eastward, north of the River Somme. It was here near Bray that he was killed in action. His Company commander wrote to his expectant widow to say he was buried at Bronfay farm, but damage from enemy air action in 1940 destroyed the official pertinent service records in London. Will’s name was placed on the monument at Vis en Artois as “no known grave”.
After 90 years, at the instigation of his son, Bill Manktelow (now deceased), searches on the ground done by the Canadian family and with the kind help of historians Peter Allam and Paula Flanagan Kesteloot, his burial at Bronfay Farm Cemetery has been confirmed. When ready, the installation of a headstone for this soldier will be attended by a party from the Royal Green Jackets (perpetuates the QVR), courtesy of Captain Baz Melia, a bugler, piper and padre.
"Progenie vivat"
Picture courtesy of Jane Manktelow-Hutchings, granddaughter of this soldier
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