A photograph of my grandfather, Harry Brain, in tropical army uniform was the start of a fascinating journey to discover the part played by Harry and, as I later discovered, his brothers in the Great War. Harry is on the left in the photograph and his brother on the right. Why was Harry in tropical uniform when his regiment, the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars served throughout the war in France and Belgium? Who was the unknown brother beside Harry in the photograph? Harry had been wounded in the war and the bullet in his leg was never removed. Where was he when he was wounded and what was he doing? During my research I was amazed to find that Harry had three other brothers who had served in the war. Albert Brain, 2nd Battalion Warwickshire Regiment missing believed killed in action 21st Nov 1914 in Fleurbaix, France, George Brain 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) Regiment killed in action 22nd March 1918 in Havrincourt, France and William Brain 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. Harry was wounded in the Battle of St Quentin 23rd March 1918. One can only imagine the anguish of their mother Sarah Brain of Calthorpe Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire on learning that two of her sons had been killed and another wounded. George had moved to Tollerton, Notts before the war and George, a former postman in Bloxham, near Banbury had married then moved to Liverpool. Albert and Harry, however, like very many other Banbury men had set out from Calthorpe Street, Banbury to do their bit in the Great War. I found a photo of Harry in a group of wounded/sick men and nurses in the grounds of the Red Cross Hospital, West Street, Grimsbury. This Wesleyan Chapel was used as a hospital from 1915 to 1919. It would be very exciting if the other men in the group could be identified. It transpired that brother George is in the photograph. He was with the 9th Btn. Sherwood Foresters who were in Egypt in Feb/Mar 1916. Harry was in Egypt with the Corps of Hussars from 20th April 1915, probably attached to the Dorsetshire Yeomanry but, also, at some point in Dec 1915 he was attached to the Lancashire Hussars. He joined the Oxfordshire Hussars in France in Dec 1916. Harry and George were both victims of the German Offensive in March 1918. Although their service records no longer exist it has been possible to piece together where the brothers were and what they were doing at the time the war ended for them. Digitising and uploading the artefacts and documents about the men who served will ensure that their experiences and sacrifice will never be forgotten. || Photographs 1. Harry & George 2. Banbury Red Cross Hospital Newspaper Extract 3. Albert Killed in Action 4. Harry and his comrades in 1918 || || Photograph || Harry (on left) & George In Egypt 1916 || Middle East || Harry & George || Egypt || || Banbury, Oxon || Banbury Guardian dated || Albert Brain || Announcement of Alberts Death || Photograph || || Harry Brain and other wounded/sick patients and the nursing staff in the Red Cross Hospital, West Street, Grimsbury, Banbury, Oxon || Harry in Red Cross Hospital, Banbury. Back row 5th from left || Photograph || Banbury, Oxon || Harry Brain& Fellow servicemen || || Harry and his comrades || Photograph || A group of Oxfordshire Hussars in 1918 (except the man in the back row on the right who appears to be from an (unknown) Irish Regiment). Harry is on the right in the front row. || Harry Brain

Charles Fox (Berkshire Regiment) and William ‘Wilf’ Fox both served in the army during the First World War. Charles with the Berkshire Regiment and Wilf with the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment. Charles and Wilf were my Great Grandmother's brothers. The brothers grew up in Aston, near Witney but the family believes they both served with their respective regiments in France. The family know very little about the two brothers and have found their histories difficult to trace. Sadly neither brother survived the war: Charles died on 22nd February 1918 and the family do not know the date that Wilf died. My grandmother had a few memories but she would only have been a very young girl at the time. The brothers were part of a large family of 13 children and both of them worked on the same farm in Aston, just outside Witney. It was the ‘done thing’ to sign-up for honour and for country. Wilf served with the Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry as a private (9604 service number according to War Graves Commission but no. 22485 W Fox is the number recorded on his campaign medals, the difference in numbers may possibly be because the numbers were later changed) . The medals, Death Penny and insignia badges have been passed down to me by my grandmother, who kept them in the wardrobe. I used to look at them when I was a boy and was fascinated by them. When my grandma passed away the medals and insignia were passed to me. I am very proud of the brothers’ contributions and for their service to the country and the war. I would have liked to have met them and to have learnt more about their experiences. Both brothers are commemorated at the Communal Cemetery at Metz-en-Coutere (British Extension) so we assume that they served in France. Charles has a headstone and Wilf is commemorated on a plinth. The photo shows my Grandmother visiting Charles headstone. || Medals in original envelopes – service and campaign medals (William Fox); Death Penny (For Charles Fox); Insignia for Royal Berkshire (Dragon) - Charles; Insignia for Oxfordshire (Horn) - Wilf. Photograph from visit to Charles' headstone

Medals in original envelopes – service and campaign medals (William Fox); Death Penny (For Charles Fox); Insignia for Royal Berkshire (Dragon) - Charles; Insignia for Oxfordshire (Horn) - Wilf. || Charles Fox (Berkshire Regiment) and William ‘Wilf’ Fox were my grandmother's brothers and both served in the army during the First World War. Charles was with the Berkshire Regiment, and Wilf with the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment. They grew up in Aston, near Witney, but the family believes they both served with their respective regiments in France. The family know very little about the two brothers and have found their histories difficult to trace as sadly neither brother survived the war. Charles died on 22nd February 1918. The family do not know when Wilf died. My grandmother had a few memories but she would only have been a very young girl at the time. The brothers were part of a large family of 13 children and both of them worked on the same farm in Aston, just outside Witney. It was the ‘done thing’ to sign-up for honour and for country. Wilf served with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Regiment as a private (9604 service number according to War Graves Commission but no. 22485 W Fox is the number recorded on his campaign medals, possibly because numbers were later changed) . The medals, Death Penny and insignia badges have been passed down to me by my grandmother, who kept them in the wardrobe. I used to look at them when I was a boy and was fascinated by them. When my grandma passed away the medals and insignia were passed to me. I am very proud of the brothers’ contributions and for their service to the country and the war. I would have liked to have met them and to have learnt more about their experiences. Both brothers are commemorated at the Communal Cemetery at Metz-en-Coutere (British Extension) so we assume they served in France. Charles has a headstone and Wilf is commemorated on a plinth. The photo shows my grandmother visiting Charles' headstone.