Private Bertie P BRICE
Royal Fuisiliers GS/50118
Although, Bertie Pinder Brice appears on the Woodnewton Roll of Honour, he never lived in the village. He was born in Wansford on 1th April 1881, to parents of William and Emma Brice, who in the1901 census were registered as living at Bridge House. This census also shows that Bertie was a wheelwright apprentice.
It was in 1905 that Bertie married Emily Dixon, and went to live with Emily’s parents and siblings at Nassington. His family of wife and three children were still living there when Bertie joined the Royal Fusiliers.
Unfortunately, there are no Attestation papers available for Bertie (could have been burnt in the Second World War), however it is known from a newspaper cutting that he was called up to serve his country in May 1916. The ‘Campaign Medal Index Cards’ on Ancestry also shows that he joined the 5th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers’ and served in a Theatre of war between 7th December and 31st December 1916, for which he was awarded the Victory and British Medals. Bertie was also issued with a Silver War Badge and honourably discharged on 4th April 1919. This badge was issued to those service personnel in the United Kingdom and the British Empire, who had been discharged from military service due to wounds or sickness.
However, Bertie was home by the time the 1918 Electoral Roll was produced as he is listed with his wife at Nassington, but by 1921, the census of that year shows that they had moved to Apethorpe and the family were now living in Laundry Road. This census also showed that Bertie had been able to return to his work as a wheelwright, working for James Quincey, also at Apethorpe.
Eighteen years later, when the 1939 register was issued, the family was still at Laundry Road and Bertie was still working as a wheelwright.
Bertie came from a family of talented musicians with his father and older brother, Ernest, both being organists as well as himself. The interest in music also spread throughout his own family, with his wife, Emily being a pianist, his sons ; Fergus being an organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s, Stamford, Shearhod an organist and violinist and daughter, Dorothy an organist and pianist. Bertie played the organ at Apethorpe and Woodnewton churches.
Bertie died in Stamford Hospital and his funeral took place at St Leonard’s Church Apethorpe, on Tuesday, 11th December 1956. In his obituary, it was recorded that Bertie was of a quiet and kindly disposition and that he had been the organist at Apethorpe Church for 49 years.
2022