MICHAEL BROUGH was born on 30th September 1896, his father was Thomas Brough, a miner; his mother was Sarah Brough (formerly Skelly) and they lived at Shield Row, West Stanley, Co Durham. He was educated at Stanley St Joseph’s School, leaving there as a 14 year old to begin his working life as a miner at Andrew’s House Colliery, Marley Hill. Very little is known about his early life, although I have it on very good authority that he was a happy-go-lucky and cheerful lad, often seen with his peak-cap perched on his head at a jaunty angle and whistling as he made his way to work in the morning.

It is recorded that he volunteered as a recruit for the Army in September 1914, (Height 5’10½"), joining the 13th (Service) Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry as Private Brough 17750, serving with "A" Company. On 16th September 1914, the new recruits for the Durham Light Infantry, including the 13th Battalion were sent by train from Newcastle to Bullswater Camp in Surrey to become part of the 68th Brigade of the 23rd Division. There began the difficult task of turning enthusiastic civilians into trained soldiers. This job was made more difficult by the lack of instructors, experienced officers and non-commissioned officers. In addition there was an acute shortage of uniforms, rifles and equipment. At the end of July 1915, their training was over and the soldiers had returned to barracks after their embarkation leave and left for France and eventually the front line where active service on the Western Front for the 13th Battalion was about to begin.

On 7th October 1915 the 13th relieved the 12th Battalion at the Front Line. This particular part of the Western Front was described at the time as "quiet", although the Battalion still suffered daily casualties from shelling, rifle fire, hand-grenades and snipers. The routine of Front Line duty, followed by relief, continued for the rest of October with working parties, digging trenches and barb-wiring (presumably because many of the Durham’s were former miners) went out every night except when it was so wet that all work was cancelled. The conditions which the rookie soldiers had to endure were atrocious but graphically described in a letter by Lieutenant Philip Brown to his mother saying:-

"We have gone back to the trenches - and to such trenches. I don’t think any words can adequately describe them. It has been raining .... There is not a patch of dry ground anywhere. Boards soaked in mud, sandbags bursting with mud, ponds and even wells of mud .... yellow mud, greasy ponds, dirty clothing and heaps of mangled sandbags. A great deal of trench work is collapsing in the wet, as was to be expected, and it keeps us busy reconstructing it. We had a certain amount of shell fire but very little rifle fire yet. A mild enemy in front of us, I think. Now I must stop as I am on duty and should go the rounds."

This was to be his last letter home.

At 9.15pm on 4th November 1915 Lieut Brown, together with his constant companion and observer, Private Thomas Kenny, whom he had described in an earlier letter to his mother as a very nice Irishman from County Durham, went off into "no mans land" to visit a working party who had previously been detailed to go out to repair the barbed wire defences in front of their trenches. The rain had stopped but with no wind, a thick dense fog had descended engulfing the Lieutenant and his observer. In the darkness and fog, Lieutenant Brown gradually realised that they had missed the working party and that they were lost and stranded somewhere in "no mans land". It must be remembered that because of the constant heavy shelling, over a prolonged period, shell holes, trenches, barbed wire and mud had replaced what had previously been roads, picturesque fields and woodlands and other readily identifiable landmarks.

They decided that their best course of action was to try and retrace their steps albeit in virtual total darkness, thick mud and the constant threat of encountering enemy patrols. At 9.45pm, the precise moment that they stood up to go back, a single shot rang out and Lieutenant Brown fell, seriously wounded in both thighs. Unhesitatingly, Private Kenny, without regard for his own safety, lifted the officer onto his back, which action immediately prompted the Germans to open up with continuous heavy rifle fire, forcing Private Kenny to crawl through the mud, water, shell holes and uneven terrain with the badly wounded officer on his back. This ordeal was to last for nearly an hour, before Private Kenny, cold, wet and totally exhausted, eventually found a place in "no mans land" that he recognised, where he made the wounded officer as comfortable as possible and he then started off on his own in an attempt to return to his own trenches.

Eventually, at approximately 11.00pm, his efforts were rewarded and he reached the safety of his own lines, whereupon he reported the events to his superior officer, Captain White. The Captain immediately asked for volunteers to go with him to rescue the wounded Lieutenant. Two stretcher bearers, together with Privates Thomas Kerr and Michael Brough stepped forward and volunteered. Private Kenny, although exhausted, and with his hands and legs bleeding from his previous exploits, led the party back to the wounded officer. On the return journey back to their own lines, they were first met by intense rifle and machine gun fire and then by hand grenades thrown at them from a mere thirty yards. Captain White ordered the rest of the party to go on whilst he stayed behind to cover their retreat. Remarkably, they eventually reached their own lines without further mishap.

Lieutenant Brown, despite his terrible wounds and weak from loss of blood, recovered consciousness for a brief period and was heard to say:

" Well Kenny, you’re a hero"

Sadly the officer succumbed to his wounds and died whilst being carried back to the field dressing station.

Private Kenny was awarded the Victoria Cross for his outstanding bravery and devotion to duty in this rescue operation and became the first member of the DLI in the First World War to receive this, the highest of all military awards.. The Citation in the London Gazette stating "that his pluck endurance and devotion to duty were beyond praise".It is worth recording that both Privates Thomas Kerr and Michael Brough were recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their efforts in this brave rescue bid, but for an unknown reason, that recommendation failed.

The trench digging and barb-wiring continued with the 13th under heavy shell fire with casualties on both sides being heavy, but these events were a mere prelude to the main battle which commenced on 1st July 1916 and continued until 18th November 1916 and which in later years became known as "The Battle of the Somme".

Records show that on the opening day of this battle no fewer than thirteen divisions or one hundred thousand British infantrymen left their trenches at 7.30 in the morning and moved across "No Man’s Land" towards the enemy. The opening attack, having been preceded by a massive continuous preliminary bombardment which had lasted a week. The ensuing Battle of the Somme saw the British Army supported by troops from Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Canada. A further eight French Divisions were also committed south of the River Somme

On the 16th July 1916, the 13th, after they had taken over trenches from the 6th Bedford Regiment near Contalmaison Wood, the Germans concentrated heavy shell fire on the trenches and the 13th suffered fifty casualties in the first two days alone. The fierce fighting ebbed to and fro without any significant success being achieved by either side, although both continued to suffer heavy casualties. In the evening of 19th July, Australian troops arrived enabling the 13th to withdraw to the safety of Albert, albeit through a barrage of poison gas shells.

On the afternoon of 4th August the 13th returned to their front line trenches and encountered fierce fighting and the now customary heavy casualties. On the evening of 5th August 1916 the 13th were relieved by the 8th Yorkshire Regiment and the 13th once again moved back to the town of Albert for a brief but welcome break from the horrors of the front line.

In this latest encounter, Privates Michael Brough and Thomas Kerr were both awarded the Military Medal for their gallantry displayed during these operations.

On 7th October 1916 the town of Le Sars was recaptured from the Germans in a sustained attack led by the 12th Battalion who were supported by a tank which received a direct hit from a shell and was put out of action. The task of the 13th was to clear the ruins which remained in enemy hands and to establish an advance post beyond this point. The 13th had two small platoons per Company and it is recorded "that every man knew what he had to do and felt more than equal to the task." Casualties again were heavy but eventually, the enemy were in retreat and Le Sars was recaptured and its defence secured.

Honours were bestowed on many of both Battalions for their bravery during this action, including Sgt Michael Brough MM who was awarded a bar to his previous Military Medal. The citation stating "that near Le Sars during the period 6th - 9th October 1916 he was consistently noticeable by the fearless manner in which he carried out his orders, was of the utmost assistance to his Company Officers and, after the capture of the village, though apparently exhausted, did excellent work on patrol".

By way of information and to remind everyone of the appalling conditions and exceptional hardship that the soldiers had to endure for over four months of virtually continuous fighting, it is recorded that on 5th November 1915, an attack took place on the Butte de Warlencourt in the Somme in which the DLI took part and which was launched in heavy rain and gale force winds, when the surface of the ground was thick with mud and the trenches were in a dreadful condition, being practically thigh deep in mud and water and any soldier who fell into the trench simply drowned. A sustained assault was made against the enemy trenches only to be met by terrible and annihilating rifle and machine gun fire which practically wiped out the attacking force. Needless to say survivors from this engagement were few and the attack ended without achieving its objective.

It is also worthy of recording that from July to early November 1916, battalion after battalion of the DLI were sent into battle on the Somme. These battalions fought and died at Bazantin Ridges at Pozieres, Delvile Wood, Martinpuich, Le Sars, Gueudecourt and on Le Transloy Ridge and every attack cost the Regiment one hundred - sometimes four hundred- casualties to machine guns, hand grenades and artillery shells.

The next recorded action in which Sgt Brough was mentioned, occurred on 13th May 1917 when the 13th went back into the Front Line near a point known as Hill 60, near Ypres in Belgium, where some of the most fierce and bloodiest battles of the First World War took place. Casualties were numerous and many acts of outstanding bravery are recorded and many soldiers received bravery awards, including the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sgt Michael Brough, the citation stating that it was "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy raid on our front line trenches in a salient. In the temporary absence of his officer, he maintained complete control and by his courage and coolness in passing along the line to visit the posts, always under a violent bombardment and in spite of blocks in the trenches, he set a splendid example to the men. His promptness in opening fire was largely responsible for the repulse of one raiding party. He rendered invaluable assistance to his platoon officer and throughout set a fine example to those around him". (London Gazette 26th July 1917).

Records show that Michael was wounded twice, the first time on 20th September 1917 at Passchendale Ridge and on the second occasion on 8th October 1918 in the Somme, from where he was taken to Oxford General Hospital on 2nd November 1918. Subsequently, because of his injuries he was honourably discharged from the Army on 5th February 1919.

At the end of the War and having recovered sufficiently from his wounds, he returned to his former life style, as a miner, at Marley Hill Colliery.

On 8th June 1935, whilst residing at High Byermoor, he was married to Elizabeth Dunphy of Sunniside, the marriage being officiated at Byermoor Sacred Heart (RC) Church.

For the records, Michael had a brother called Edward who served in the Royal Navy during the War.

When the Second World War (1939-45) started, he again took an active part by joining the Police Constabulary as a Special Constable for which he later received the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.

He died on 25th April 1973 whilst living at 7 Miners Homes, Marley Hill and he was buried in Byermoor Cemetery.

This is a very brief history of a truly remarkable, modest, yet courageous person, indeed one of the bravest of the brave, a man of patriotism, doing what he considered to be his duty to serve his Country when called upon to do so in its hours of need.

Michael Brough’s medals are listed above and are on display at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery, Aykley Heads, Durham City.