In Commemoration

            Genealogical research is undertaken for a variety of reasons, a few of which are documenting one’s family tree for lineage-related societies, fostering an awareness of our ancestors’ ethnic origins and culture, and developing an appreciation for the historical times in which our ancestors lived.  But what of those for whom no descendant may search, because there are no descendants?

            Kenneth Breakey of Portadown, Northern Ireland, recently brought to my attention the ‘Debt of Honour Register’ for Breakey veterans of World Wars I & II as published by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  Upon receipt of this information I contacted the Commission (May 2, 2000), and it is with their kind permission (Peter Francis to author, May 3, 2000) that I have reprinted the following “Display Records of Commemoration.”

            It gives me great pleasure to include this article in The Breakey Collection – “lest we forget.”

Marilyn J. Breakey

Harrington House

Baldwinsville, New York

May 2000

Please see ‘author’s note’ following the Display Records of Commemoration.

In Memory of

FRANK BREAKEY

Private

3410

1^st Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers

who died on

Sunday, 25^th April 1915

Commemorative Information

Memorial:

            HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219

Location:

            The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula.  It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.

Historical Information:

            The Helles Memorial bears over 20,000 names and is both the memorial to the Gallipoli campaign and to men who fell in that campaign and whose graves are unknown or who were lost or buried at sea in the Gallipoli waters (other than Australian, New Zealanders and Newfoundlanders who are named on other memorials).  Inscribed on it are the names of all the ships that took part in the campaign and the titles of the army formations and units which served on the Peninsula.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

HAROLD BREAKEY

Private

1936

“B” Coy. 1^st/8^th Bn., Manchester Regiment

who died on

Thursday, 15^th July 1915.  Age 19.

Additional Information:

            Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Breakey of 23 Nansen St., Ardwick, Manchester.

Commemorative Information

Memorial:

            HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            Panel 158 to 170

Location:

            The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula.  It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.

Historical Information:

            The Helles Memorial bears over 20,000 names and is both the memorial to the Gallipoli campaign and to men who fell in that campaign and whose graves are unknown or who were lost or buried at sea in Gallipoli waters (other than Australian, New Zealanders and Newfoundlanders who are named on other memorials).  Inscribed on it are the names of all the ships that took part in the campaign and the titles of the army formations and units which served on the Peninsula.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

LAURENCE WALLACE BREAKEY

Private

1568

1^st Regt., South African Infantry

who died on

Tuesday, 18^th July 1916.  Age 19.

Additional Information:

            Son of Mrs. A. Breakey of 30 Milton Rd., Observatory, Cape Province.

Commemorative Information

Memorial:

            THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            Pier and Face 4 C

Location:

            The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, off the main Bapaume to Albert Road (D929).

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

JASPER OTHO JOHN CAREW BREAKEY

Private

10451

23^rd Bn., Royal Fusiliers

attd. 252^nd Tunnelling Coy., Royal Engineers

who died on

Friday, 6^th April 1917.  Age 27.

Additional Information:

            Son of Lieutenant Col. A. J. Breakey, O.B.E., R.A.  Born at R.M. Academy, Woolwich, London.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:

            VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY, Somme, France

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

I. J. 72.

Location:

            Varennes is a village 11 kilometres from Albert and 18 kilometres from Amiens.  Take the D938 from Albert To Doullens.  In Hedauville turn left on the D47E towards Varennes.  2 kilometres further on you will come to a crossroads in the village of Varennes where you should turn right.  About 300 metres further, turn left following the CWGC sign, and the Cemetery will be found about 500 metres further on the right.

Historical Information:

            In August 1916, during the Battles of the Somme, the 39^th Casualty Clearing Station laid out the Military Cemetery; but the first burials in it, during August and September, were carried out by the more mobile units, the Field Ambulances of three Divisions.  From October 1916 to May 1917, the 4^th and 11^th Clearing Stations used it, and from December 1916, to May 1917, the 47^th.  Then for a year Varennes was deserted; but from April to August, 1918, the Divisions opposed to the German attack in this quarter, particularly the 17^th and the 38^th (Welsh), extended the Cemetery by  Plots II. and III.  Lastly, at the beginning of September 1918, the 3^rd Canadian and 59^th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Varennes.  There are now over one thousand 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.  The Military Cemetery stands six feet above the road and is entered by stone steps at the South-West corner, beside the Cross of Sacrifice.  The Stone of Remembrance is at the North-East corner.  Varennes Communal Cemetery, which stands opposite the Military Cemetery, contains two British graves, of November 1915 and July 1916, near the South-West corner.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

WILLIAM JOSEPH BREAKEY

Rifleman

228479

1^st Bn., Monmouthshire Regiment

who died on

Sunday, 26^th August 1917.  Age 19.

Additional Information:

            Son of Joseph Edward and Matilda Breakey of 6 Wilcox Place, Regent St., Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:

            MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            II. F. 18.

Location:

            Menin Road South Military Cemetery is located 2 kilometres east of Ieper town center, on the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen.  From Ieper town centre the Meenseweg is located via Torhoutstraat and right on Basculestraat.  Basculestraat ends at a main crossroads, directly over which begins the Meenseweg.  The Cemetery is located 800 metres along the Meenseweg on the right hand side of the road.

Historical Information:

            The Menin Road ran East and a little South from Ypres to a front line which varied but a few kilometres during the greater part of the war.  The position of this cemetery was always within the Allied lines.  It was first used in January 1916 by the 8^th South Staffords and the 9^th East Surreys; it continued in use, by units and Field Ambulances, until the summer of 1918; and it was increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from Menin Road North Military Cemetery and from isolated positions on the battlefields to the East.  There are now over fifteen hundred 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.  Of these, over 100 are unidentified and memorials are erected to 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom and four from Australia, known or believed to be buried among them.  In addition, special memorials have been erected to 52 soldiers from the United Kingdom and three from Newfoundland, who were buried in Menin Road North Military Cemetery, but whose graves (probably owing to shell fire) could not be found on concentration.  The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Highlanders of Canada set up wooden memorials in this cemetery to their dead in the Battle of Mount Sorrel, June 1916.  There is one unknown German Soldier buried in this cemetery.  The cemetery covers an area of 6,345 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.  MENIN ROAD NORTH MILITARY CEMETERY  was on the North side of the road at almost the same point.  It was used by the units and Field Ambulance of another Corps from May 1915, to August 1916, and again to a small extent in 1917 and 1918.  It contained the graves of 130 soldiers from the United Kingdom, three from Canada, and three from Newfoundland.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

HENRY LEOPOLD BREAKEY

Second Lieutenant

Royal Air Force

who died on

Monday, 15^th July 1918.  Age 25.

Additional Information;

            Son of H. J. and Alice M. Breakey of Hillside, Monaghan.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:

            SALISBURY (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            K. 84

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

S BREAKEY

Lance Corporal

514161

14^th Bn., London Regt (London Scottish)

who died on

Saturday, 31^st August 1918.  Age 26.

Additional Information:

            Son of Elizabeth Breakey of 16 Moncrieff St., Paisley, and the late James Breakey.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:

            H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN, Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference/Panel Number :

            VII. G. 8.

Location:

            Ecoust-St-Mein is a village between Arras, Cambrai and Bapaume. HAC Cemetery is about 800 metres south of the village on the west side of the D956 road to Beugenatre.

Historical Information:

            The enemy positions from Doignies to Henin-sur-Cojeul, including the village of Ecoust, were captured on the 2^nd April 1917, by the 4^th Australian and 7^th Divisions.  This cemetery was begun by the 7^th Division after the battle, when 27 of the 2^nd H.A.C. who fell (with one exception) on the 31^st March or the 1^st April, were buried in what is now Plot I, Row A.  After the German counter-attack near Lagnicourt on the 15^th April, twelve Australian gunners were buried in the same row.  Rows B, C and part of D were made in August and September 1918, when the ground had been recaptured by the 3^rd Division after five months enemy occupation.  The 120 graves thus made were the original H.A.C. Cemetery; but after the Armistice graves were added from the battlefields of Bullecourt and Ecoust and from a number of smaller burial grounds.  There are now nearly two thousand 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site.  Of these, over half are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 14 from Australia, know or believed to be buried among them.  Other special memorials record the names of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.  The cemetery covers an area of 5.801 square metres and is enclosed by a low red brick wall.  The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were concentrated into this cemetery: BARASTRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing 284 German graves, 46 French, and those of 39 soldiers from the United Kingdom, four from New Zealand and one from Australia. BULLECOURT CHURCHYARD, containing the graves of two airmen from the United Kingdom, and BULLECOURT GERMAN CEMETERY (South of the village, just beyond the railway. Line), in which 200 German soldiers and 30 from the United Kingdom were buried.  Bullecourt was the scene of very fierce fighting from the 3^rd to the 17^th May 1917, on the 21^st March 1918, and on the 31^st August and the 1^st September 1918. CAGNICOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, containing 333 German and six Russian graves, and those of 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Australia.  CROISILLES GERMAN CEMETERIES, both on the road to Ecoust, containing, in all, the graves of 505 German soldiers, one French, and eleven from the United Kingdom.  EPINOY CHURCHYARD, containing the graves of three airmen from the United Kingdom and one from Canada, as well as 136 German graves.  The church was destroyed in the War, and the Churchyard is now closed to burials.  IMPERIAL CEMETERY, 800 metres West of HENDECOURT-LESCAGNICOURT, containing the graves of ten soldiers and two sailors from the United Kingdom and seven Canadian soldiers, who fell in August-September 1918. (Dominion Cemetery still exists).  INCHY-EN-ARTOIS CHURCHYARD (now closed), which contained the grave of one R.N.A.S. officer.  LECLUSE CHURCHYARD (now closed), which contained the grave of one R.F.C. officer.  L’HOMME MORT CEMETERY No. 2, ECOUST-ST. MEIN (between L’Homme Mort and Vraucourt), containing the graves of 19 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in August-September 1918.  MARQUION GERMAN CEMETERY, in the village of Marquion.  It contained the graves of 211 German soldiers, eight Russian, and 17 from the United Kingdom.  MORY-ECOUST ROAD CEMETERIES No. 1 and No. 2, ECOUST, ST. MEIN, both very near the road.  They were made in March, April and May 1917, and they contained the graves of 63 soldiers from the United Kingdom (almost all 8^th and 9^th Devons and R.F.A.) and one from Australia.  QUEANT GERMAN CEMETERY, at the North-East exit of the village, containing the graves of 22 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in March 1918.  VILLERS-LES-CAGNICOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, containing the graves of 25 German soldiers and two from the United Kingdom.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

ANDREW BREAKEY

Flight Lieutenant

109906

18 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

who died on

Friday, 4^th December 1942.

Additional Information:

            Of the U.S.A.

Commemorative Information

Memorial:

            MALTA MEMORIAL, Malta

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

            Panel 2, Column 1.

Location:

            The Malta Memorial is situated in the area of Floriana and is easily identified by the Golden Eagle which surmounts the column.  It stands outside the King’s Gate, the main entrance to Valletta.  The Memorial takes the form of a column, 15 metres high, of travertine marble from Tivoli in the Sabine Hills near Rome, incised with a light reticulated pattern and surmounted by a gilded bronze eagle two metres high.  The column stands on a circular base around which the names are commemorated on bronze panels.  A bronze panel at the base of the column itself bears the following inscription: OVER THESE AND NEIGHBOURING LANDS AND SEAS THE AIRMEN WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED HERE FELL IN RAID OR SORTIE AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.  MALTA GIBRALTA MEDITERRANEAN ADRIATIC TUNISIA SICILY ITALY YUGOSLAVIA AUSTRIA.  PROPOSITI INSULA TENAX TENACES VIROS COMMEMORAT.  The Latin epigram may be rendered in English: AN ISLAND RESOLUTE OF PURPOSE REMEMBERS RESOLUTE MEN.

Historical Information;

            The Malta Memorial, built on a site generously provided by the Government of Malta, commemorates those who lost their lives whilst serving with the Commonwealth Air Forces flying from bases in Austria, Italy, Sicily, islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Africa, Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no known grave.  The bravery of the people of the island of Malta between the years 1940 – 1942 was honoured with the unique award of the George Cross.

Display Record of Commemoration

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In Memory of

T J McD BREAKEY

Lieutenant

329121

V.S.A.A.F. 2 Sqdn., South African Air Force

Who died on

Wednesday, 25^th April 1945.  Age 22.

Additional Information;

            Son of Isaiah and Violet L. Breakey of Trompsburg, Orange Free State, South Africa.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:

            FORLI WAR CEMETERY, Italy

Grave Reference/Panel Number;

            VII, B, 15.

Location:

            The War Cemetery is located on the outskirts of Forli, about 3 kilometres South-West of the town, in the locality of Vecchiazzano, Via Borghina.  From the SS9 to the west of the town, take the SS67 to Florence.  After 3-4 km there is a signpost pointing left to Vecchiazzano.  The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime.

Historical Information:

            The cemetery site was selected soon after the Eighth Army took Forli in November 1944, and burials were concentrated there from the surrounding battlefields; many of those buried there lost their lives in the heavy fighting in appalling weather between Rimini and Ravenna in October-December 1944. There are now over seven hundred 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site.

Display Record of Commemoration

* * * *

Author’s note:

            Jasper Otho John Carew Breakey who died Friday, 6^th April 1917, age 27, was the grandson of Dr. John Breakey, Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets of the Royal Navy.  See An Investigative Report on the Arms of Breakey (de Brequet) soon to be included in The Breakey Collection.