231872 Pte. Brandon Platt British Army 21st (Pioneer) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment from:Denshaw, Saddleworth (d.8th July 1916) Brandon Platt walked with his best friend Thomas Hilditch from his home village of Denshaw, Saddleworth, this being in Yorkshire they went to Triangle and rode the tram to Halifax to join a Yorkshire Regiment, were inspected and joined the army at the former tram depot at Highroad Well in Halifax then were sent home until called for. (Pioneers had an extra 2d per day pay over the normal 1/-shilling.)
Training was at Skipton and also Ripon, certainly North Yorkshire as both Hilditch and Platt took a long weekend and were late on parade, this was 'glossed over'. They were then to be sent to Egypt but the 'big push' changed all that and they were sent to France.
During the 4th Division attack the next wave to go over was 21st WYR when the attack was called off, so he was in the front trench it was necessary for the 21st West Yorks to hold the line for quite a few days until they were able to be relieved, certainly they were still in the area as of 9th July
Thomas Hilditch and Brandon Platt served together and on the evening of 8th July 1916 Hilditch was selected as part of a work party and Platt volunteered to go too, as they waited in the rear area to go into the trench system to work on the trench walls a shell fell to the right of Hilditch and Brandon Platt on his left fell dead, a passing RMC Captain was on scene and he immediately examined Pte Platt but found no wound however it transpired that a piece of shrapnel had penetrated the neck and heart causing his immediate death.
Brandon is buried at Colincamps (Sucerie) Cemetry near Mailley Maillet on the Somme. Additional Information: | commemorated Saddleworth pots & Pans war memorial &
Denshaw war MemorialNEIL Barrow
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