WW1 - French seaman's death recorded in Liverpool

Post by **daggers** » 31 Aug 2010 17:14

The memorial 'screen wall' [RC version] in Allerton Cemetery includes the name of 'Matelot 3me Classe J.M. BRUSO', of the 'Cruiseur Conde', who died on 21 July 1917.
It seems that he must have died in Liverpool, and was buried at Allerton in a common grave, with no individual stone.
Can our efficient sleuths find anything about him? This looks like a tough one!
Daggers

Post by **Hilary** » 31 Aug 2010 18:06

Don't know anything about the man but this tells you about his ship

www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/conde.htm

It appears to have been part of the French Navy and was on Atlantic duites.

I imagine you'd need French records to find out about him

Out of nosiness I ask why do you want to know about him?

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **daggers** » 31 Aug 2010 18:34

If we are not nosey we are nothing!
I have taken photos of WW1-related memorials at Allerton Cem for a project and found the unexpected Frenchman on the RC memorial screen wall. Those names are of men without an individual burial plot. Not being British or from the Empire he does not qualify for an entry on the CWGC's Debt of Honour Register, and I have just been told he is not on the French equivalent.
Opinions suggest his ship visited Liverpool and he died from illness, which sadly would not qualify him for official recognition by their Navy.
D

Post by **Hilary** » 31 Aug 2010 19:18

I'd check Allerton cemetery records for his burial. That entry may give useful information.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **daggers** » 31 Aug 2010 22:46

Good idea - thanks.
D

Post by **Tina** » 01 Sep 2010 05:40

Hi Daggers

There's a death in the jul-sep qtr 1917 Tox Park of a
Joseph BRUSQ 19yrs

Tina

Post by **daggers** » 01 Sep 2010 08:53

Tina
That sounds like the same man, with a misreading [by me at the memorial] or a mistranscription of the BMD.
I shall follow it up.
Thanks for the info.
D

Post by **Hilary** » 01 Sep 2010 09:22

I think this man must have been known to someone in the area for his name to be on a memorial as generally people had to request names to be put on them.

I therefore suggest finding out when the memorial was commisssioned and unveiled and how people's names wre included.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **daggers** » 01 Sep 2010 13:13

Hilary
I'll start with CWGC and go on from there.
D

Post by **Katie** » 01 Sep 2010 17:17

Hi Daggers I relooked in the index and he is under the name Tina found so he is buried at Allerton

1917
Brisq? Joseph
5963 (this is the entry number in the Register

Cheers

Post by **Tina** » 03 Sep 2010 08:59

Good one Katie

Tina

Post by **daggers** » 03 Sep 2010 14:34

I n my original post I used the name BRUSO, as that is what it looks like on my photo of the memorial, but I accept that the tail of the Q is rather obscure. I shall use BRUSQ in future.
Thanks to all seeking where I had not.
D

Post by **daggers** » 05 Sep 2010 12:35

Now that the microfilms are set up in the museum, is there any kind soul with time on their side, who could look in the Allerton Cemetery burial records for my Matelot, J.M. BRUSQ, who died on 21 July 1917.
Katie kindly found the register entry number: 5963.
It would be good to know if he had a Liverpool address - possibly a hospital, or even his ship, the French cruiser Conde.

Post by **Katie** » 07 Sep 2010 21:39

Daggers done the look up today but I have left my notebook at the Record Office section. (I am getting old) All I can remember is he was with the French Royal Navy and he died at a Auxillery Hospital in the Toxteth area sorry. I will give you the details when I track my notebook down

Post by **daggers** » 07 Sep 2010 22:45

Katie
Many thanks for looking and I hope you catch up with your notes.
D

Post by **Katie** » 11 Sep 2010 13:14

Here you go Daggers

5963 R/C 24th July 1917 John Brusq 19years French Navy- Windsor Street Aux Hospital Toxteth Park Public Grave 5505

Post by **daggers** » 11 Sep 2010 13:25

Kathy
Glad you found your notebook!

Thanks very much for the details. I can add that by curious chance, today would be Brusq's birthday, born 1897 at Treboul, Finisterre.

Daggers

Post by **Tina** » 12 Sep 2010 08:57

Hi Daggers
Just to say there are a number of Brusq's going back yonks in IGI in Finistere France.
Tina

Post by **daggers** » 12 Sep 2010 10:01

Thanks, Tina. I've just found Treboul on the coast in NW France, not far from the port of Brest which I think has long been a base for the French navy.
D

Post by **daggers** » 05 Oct 2010 17:01

To round off this thread on Matelot Brusq of the French Navy, CWGC have told me that after the WW1 screen wall memorial had been erected at Allerton Cemetery, the French authorities arranged for the body of Brusq to be exhumed and it was returned to his home area for re-burial. In compliance with CWGC's policy relating to non-UK personnel, the name will be removed when the screen is next replaced or re-carved, which may be some years in the future.

D