Alfred Ernest Brinsmead

& Florence Elizabeth Brinsmead (nee Smith)

Alfred Charles Brinsmead

Alfred Ernest Brinsmead 

Born 1877 St. Pancras, London

Alfred Ernest Brinsmead, an Articled apprenticed cabinet-maker, married Florence Elizabeth Smith in 1897 at the age of twenty years. They had six children, Lilian, Ernest, Alfred, Arthur, Harold and Edith (Barbara).

Alfred invented part of the modern tennis racket, which was made under licence by Slazenger of Poultney Lane, London for many years and he also owned a high class shop-fitting business in Upton Park, London until enlistment in 1916 in the Royal Naval Air Service (now the RAF) in the Great War.

The young airman trained at the Crystal Palace, London in navigation, flying and mechanics, on Sopwith Camel aeroplanes, and as a result, decided to manufacture aeroplanes after the War. He was posted to the 40,000 ton Battleship HMS Inflexible, under the command of Commander F.C. Waiwin, with one aeroplane.

Alfred fought at the Battle of Zeebrugge, in which a ship of 4,000 tons was placed and sunk across the entrance to Zeebrugge Harbour, thereby preventing part of the German Grand Battle Fleet reaching the open sea. The ship's aeroplane was engaged in spotting during the battle and Alfred, injured by wounds in both legs, was in the sea for six hours before being rescued.

After that, there were various other tours of duty, but Alfred was killed on active service on 18th July 1918, of f Scapa Flow when he was struck by an airscrew. It was during the closing weeks of the War. He was buried with full military honours, in the War Graves Cemetry, City of London Cemetry, Wanstead Flats Common, London E on the 27th July 1918. An aeroplane body formed his carriage and six fully uniformed personnel acted as bearers.

His probate records show:

Brinsmead Alfred Ernest of 69 Rutland-road Forest Gate Essex mechanic RAF 13th July 1918 at sea on active service Probate London 15th February to Florence Elizabeth Brinsmead widow. Effects £112: 13s: 9d.

Florence Elizabeth Smith

 Born 1878 St Pancras, London

Florence Elizabeth Smith married Alfred Ernest Brinsmead in 1897, aged 19 years. Her mother was a daughter of the Brickwood family, brewers, pub and hotel owners. Their company is still active in the South of England today.

Florence was widowed in 1918 and left with six children. She was a loving, caring and industrious mother and remained a widow for 46 years until she died in 1964, aged 86.

Florence Elizabeth Brinsmead is buried in her husband's grave in Wanstead Cemetry, London.

Alfred Charles Brinsmead

 Born 1902 London

Additional Information Here

Alfred Charles Brinsmead was married three times. In 1926, he married Violet May Baker and they had one son, Kenneth. She died in 1928 and Alfred was married to Edna Hughes in 1930. They had one son, John but were divorced in 1955. He had one more son, Barry Charles, from his marriage to Kay Francis in 1957.

At 15 he became a clerk at Sir John Caustons Ltd stationers office, HM Stationers, Tower Hill, London. In 1919, aged 17, he left to become a Ships Steward on Cunard Passenger Liners to the United States and P & 0 Liners to the Far East, also Union Castle Liners to Africa. In 1927 he became a representative for S.E. Smith & Sons furniture manufacturers of London and was Sales Manager in 1939 when, with the outbreak of war, he joined the Royal Navy as Lieutenant Commander and was posted to Special Services and Development Department. The department was established and supervised personally by Winston Churchill and was concerned with the invention and development of secret weapons and other items for the War Effort, for example, flail tanks, Fids, landmine exploders, etc. - the original Think-Tank.

Alfred invented a pressure related detonator for Limpet mines, so when a number were attached to a ship's bottom, they exploded simultaneously, so causing maximum damage, for which he received a special reward of £1,400.

Demobilized in 1947, he became a business man and owned several glass and china shops in the South of England. Heavily involved in council work, he was a councillor in Chichester for a number of years, and Mayor of Chichester for three years.

Always a keen yachtsman, Alfred owned a 50ft yacht. He died in 1966 from lung disease brought on through excessive smoking, aged 64 years.