BOOTLE woman Isabel Braithwaite lost both her husband and a brother in the First World War.

They were killed in the 141-day Battle of the Somme in 1916 – both with no known grave and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

They were uncles of Jack Phillips, an ex-Grenadier Guardsman, of North Lane, Haverigg, who has been doing some research on their military careers.

On the 1911 census Isobel was an Atkinson and was recorded as Bella.

She was living with her parents John and Betsy Atkinson at Wylie Gap, Bootle Station, near Millom.

She was aged 19 in 1911 and worked as a dressmaker.

Also there was her brother Isaac W. Atkinson, a farm servant and had been born at Bootle.

He enlisted in the Army in Ulverston and went on to serve as private number 200697 in the 1/4th Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster.

Pte Atkinson was killed in action on the Somme on August 8 in 1916 and is named on the Bootle war memorial in the village churchyard as well as being on the Thiepval Memorial.

Isabel is recorded as getting married to William Benn Braithwaite in Bootle between January and March in 1916.

They had a son called John who died in 1971.

Her husband, private number S/11514 served with the 7th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders and was killed on October 12.

It is likely he was killed as part of a general British attack on that day along a four-mile front between Eaucourt and Bapaume.

He had been born a few miles north of Bootle at either Waberthwaite or Corney and enlisted for military service at Whitehaven.

The 1911 census shows his living with the Bradley family at Stub Place, Bootle Station. William Bradley was a farmer and William Braithwaite was an 18-year-old cowman on the farm.

In 1901 he was living with his family at Corney, near Bootle.

His medal index card shows that he would have been entitled to the Silver War medal and Victory Medal.

These would have been sent to his relatives, along with a bronze Memorial Plaque.

Army records show that his widow was sent “War Gratuity” payments of £2 and 10 shillings (£2.50) in 1917 and £3 in 1919.

Pte Braithwaite is named on the Wabertwaite war memorial at the side of the A595 near the village school.