Grace Mary Florence Bramley was born on 27 February 1902, a daughter of Benjamin Bramley (1868-1934) and Mary Ann Bramley née Moore (b.circa 1875). Her birth was registered as Grace Mary F. Bramley in the 2nd quarter of 1902 in the Hackney Registration District, London.
When her father completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he showed her as Gracie Bramley, aged 9 years, who was attending school and had been born in Hackney. She was living in a four roomed property at 25 Wadeson Street, Bethnal Green, London, with her parents and two surviving sisters: Lily Annie Rose Bramley (1904-1985) and Ivy Bramley (b.1909). Her father described himself as a road sweeper employed by the City of London at Commercial Street, London and stated that his wife had given birth to four children, but that only three were still alive.
The census return form dated 19 June 1921 lists her incorrectly as living with her family at 25 Wadeson Road, Bethnal Green. It should have read Wadeson Street. In the form completed by her father she was listed as Grace Florence Bramley, aged 19 years, 4 months, who was currently out of work but had previously been employed as a machinist working for a Rose Enthorne in Tabernacle Street, East London. She was living with her parents and two siblings: Ivy Bramley, aged 12 years, 2 months and George Benjamin Bramley (1912-1968) aged 9 years, 8 months, both of whom were in whole time education. Her father described himself as a sweeper employed by the Corporation of London, at The Guildhall, London, EC.
Electoral registers from 1931 to 1935 list her as Grace Florence Bramley at 25 Wadeson Street, Bethnal Green. Electoral rolls in 1936 show her listed, together with Florence Leedham, at 15 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green and in 1937 and 1938 they were both listed at 38 Taplow Buildings, Bethnal Green. In the 1939 electoral registers she was shown as Grace Florence Bramley, who together with Florence Leedham, were shown at 79 Guinness Buildings, Bethnal Green.
When the England and Wales Register was compiled on 29 September 1939 her date of birth was confirmed as 27 February 1902 and she was shown as a laundry maid residing at 79 Guinness Buildings, Bethnal Green, together with Florence Leedham who was listed as an office cleaner.
She and Florence Leedham were both killed by a German bomb that fell on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940. Her death was registered as Grace Bramley, aged 40 years, in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. This was incorrect as we know she was born in 1902 which would have made her aged 38 years.
She is shown as 'BRAMLEY Grace 40' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
She is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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