Bertie Annum was born c1898 in Liverpool. He was adopted by James Edwin Annum, a bricklayer / labourer, and Emily (nee Park) and, in 1901, was living with them at Foundry Yard, Bridgnorth. The Register of Soldier’s Effects suggests that his birth name was Braham – (an Albert Bernard Braham was born in Birkenhead in 1897). The 1911 census gives Bertie’s birthplace as Liverpool.
By 1911 the family had moved to Knockin and were living at 2 Whip Lane and later at Heath Wain Cottage in the village. His parents now have an adopted daughter, Fanny born 1897, again, in Liverpool. Bertie, however, was employed as a live-in errand boy for Fruiterer, Catherine Leeke at 9 Leg Street, Oswestry. At the outbreak of war he was working for Mr J. Boffey, Butcher, Beatrice Street.
Bertie joined 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at the outbreak of war and had gone over to France with the battalion on 22nd May 1915. His obituary in the BCA (16 Feb 1916) recounts that Bertie had joined up on the same day as Lance Corporal 10761 Richard H Williams – he fell on 25 September 1915, and it was Bertie who had written to Richard’s parents with ‘ the melancholy duty of acquainting them of his death. This sad duty is now discharged by Sergeant J.T. Johnson’ who, wrote to Bertie’s father. Bertie was killed by a shell on 2 Feburary 1916. The Sergeant adds – ‘ I have been out here with him for the last 8 months, and I am proud to say he was a brave and gallant soldier and is now missed very much by all his pals. I received your parcel for him and have given it to his pals, all of whom join me in deepest sympathy ’. The obituary also adds that Lord Kitchener had conveyed to Mr Annum the sympathy of the King and Queen in his sorrow – a patriotic reference to the pro forma Army Form, informing next of kin of casualties. At the time of his death the battalion were at Elveringhe in the Ypres Salient. Bertie was operating a telephone in a dugout in the front line. The battalion War Diary records a heavy German bombardment with casualties of 7 other ranks killed and 13 wounded. Bertie would have been about 18 years of age. His body was lost and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres. Bertie is also commemorated on war memorials at Knockin, Kinnerley and at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.
Two of the others killed that day were Private 6953 Percy Phillips and Private 18247 David Williams
Acknowledgements. Photo BCA
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