Private Edward James Brightmore MM
6583 1st East Lancashire Regiment
Born in Lambeth, London, Lived in Portsmouth Hampshire
The family resided for some time in Burnley
Burnley Express 30th September 1916 - 4th October 1916

MM London Gazette 21st September 1916
Mentioned on pages 66 and 71 of the Regimental History.

One of four brothers - 8268 Private Sydney Brightmore, 6th East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in Mesopotamia on the 30 April 1917

Burnley Express of 4 October 1916
Bandsman's Medal.

In the official lists published in the Express a week ago as to Military Medals, appeared the name of 6583 Bandsman E.J. Brightmore, East Lancashire Regiment. We now learn that Bandsman Brightmore is a Burnley man and he is the son of the late Mr. W. Brightmore, of the old 59th Foot (afterwards the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment). Bandsman Brightmore, whose mother now resides in Portsmouth was awarded the medal for "gallant conduct on 1 July 1916". He has two brothers serving, the eldest being W. Brightmore, Company-Sergeant-Major in the Leinster Regiment, and S. Brightmore, Drummer in the East Lancashire Regiment. A third brother, 8268 Private Sydney Brightmore, 6th East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in Mesopotamia on the 30 April 1917. He was born at Lambeth, London and enlisted at Portsmouth, Hampshire. The family home is at 14, Buckingham Place, Lake Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, but for some time the family resided and were well known in the Burnley area.

He has two brothers serving, the eldest being W. Brightmore, Company-Sergeant-Major in the Leinster Regiment, and S. Brightmore, Drummer in the East Lancashire Regiment. A third brother, 8268 Private Sydney Brightmore, 6th East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in Mesopotamia on the 30 April 1917.

He was born at Lambeth, London and enlisted at Portsmouth, Hampshire. The family home is at 14, Buckingham Place, Lake Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, but for some time the family resided and were well known in the Burnley area. Edward is also mentioned on pages 66 and 71 of the Regimental History.

At 0730 hours on 1st July 1916 the artillery lifted and the British infantry, including the 1st and 11th East Lancashires, advanced in extended lines towards the German trenches. For a few moments there was silence, and then suddenly machine guns opened up from behind largely unbroken wire and cut down the attackers in swathes. The casualties, some 57,470 men, were the worst ever suffered by the British Army on a single day.

On the far left of the British attack the 11th East Lancashires (the famous ‘Accrington Pals’) assaulted the village of Serre, while a mile to their south the 1st Battalion (the old 30th Foot) attacked to the north of Beaumont Hamel. Despite rapidly mounting casualties, the East Lancashires moved steadily forward, as if on parade, until they melted away under the fire. Small parties of both battalions entered the German trenches, but they were never seen again.

Within a few hours The East Lancashire Regiment suffered more casualties than on any other day in its long history. Out of 700 officers and men of the 1st Battalion who went into action, only 237 were present to answer their names when the roll was called, while the 11th Battalion lost 594 killed, wounded and missing out of the 720 in the attack.