Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1897 in the Prescot R.D. - ref: 8b/770,
the son of Frewderick Thomas & Eveline Brearley (nee Bridson).

1901 Census - Prescot Road, St. Helens, Prescot, Lancashire.   Son - aged:
3 - born: St. Helens, Lancashire.    Head of household - Frederick F.
Brearley - Married - aged: 31 - occ: Manager of Plate Glass Works - born
Rainhill, Lancashire.   Also - Eveline Brearley - Wife - aged: 27 - born:
Douglas, Isle of Man.   Plus 1 younger sister, a Bridson family visitor and
1 domestic servant.

1911 Census - No Trace.   His parents and younger sister were residing at 9
Edenhurst Road, Stockport at the time.   His father was now a Consulting
Engineer.

He enlisted on the 29th October 1916 and trained at the RNAS Stations at
Christal Palace, Chingford and Cranwell.   He was Commissioned on the 2nd
July 1917.

At the time of his death, Harold was serving in the Royal Naval Air Service
- at RNAS Athetstanford, later known as RAF East Fortune, situated just to
the south of the village by that name and east of Edinburgh.  He died of
his wounds following an aircraft accident on the 31st January 1918 in the
Granton Hospital, Edinburgh.    Commemorated on the family grave in the
Douglas, Isle of Man Cemetery.

The pilots there flew patrols over the North Sea. The Stockport Advertiser
reported that “On the day of the accident, he was trying a powerful
machine and, having accomplished a successful flight, was descending when
the machine crashed to the ground. Sub-Lieutenant Brearley receiving such
injuries that  he died a few hours later".