First World War 1914-15 Medal Trio - John Brougham, 15th Bn. Durham Light Infantry & 9th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment
1914-15 Star - 22776 PTE. J. BROUGHAM. DURH. L. I.
British War Medal - 22776 PTE. J. BROUGHAM. DURH. L. I.
Victory Medal - 22776 PTE. J. BROUGHAM. DURH. L. I.
John Wood Brougham was born at Winlaton, County Durham, later residing at Rowlands Gill, and enlisted for service at Gateshead. A wartime photograph of Brougham survives and is available via Ancestry, adding a valuable personal dimension to his service record.
He served with both the 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and the 9th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, reflecting the common wartime practice of posting experienced soldiers between units as operational demands required.
Brougham’s service record survives in full and is available online, providing a clear and continuous account of his wartime movements. His initial service was in the United Kingdom from 21st September 1914 to 10th September 1915, a period which would have included training, home defence duties, and preparation for overseas deployment during the rapid expansion of the British Army.
He embarked for France on 11th September 1915, joining the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front at a time of sustained and costly fighting. His period of service in France was brief, lasting until 30th September 1915, but during this time he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Such wounds were frequently severe and often resulted in long periods of recovery. He was returned to the United Kingdom on 1st October 1915, where he remained for an extended convalescence and further home service until 31st January 1917.
On 1st February 1917, John Wood Brougham was posted overseas once more, this time to Salonika, serving there until 7th June 1918. The Salonika front was notorious for its harsh climate, difficult terrain, and the prevalence of disease, which in many cases caused more casualties than enemy action. During his service in this theatre, Brougham contracted malaria, a common and debilitating illness among British troops operating in the region.
Following the conclusion of his Salonika service, he embarked aboard a British ship for the United Kingdom on 8th June 1918, arriving home on 20th June 1918. He remained on home service from 21st June 1918 until 24th September 1918, during the final months of the war, before the Armistice brought the conflict to an end.
John Wood Brougham’s wartime career illustrates the varied nature of Great War service: initial home service, a short but costly period on the Western Front resulting in a serious wound, followed by prolonged overseas duty in one of the war’s most demanding secondary theatres. The survival of his complete service record, combined with a known photograph, makes his service particularly well documented and provides an unusually clear insight into the experiences of a British infantry soldier who served across multiple fronts during the First World War.
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AJMS Medals